Viking gold bangle hoard found in Denmark
A Viking Age hoard of six solid gold bracelets has been found on the Himmerland peninsula of northeastern Jutland, Denmark. The design of the bracelets identifies them as a Scandinavian type dating to the late Viking period, ca. 900-1000 A.D., but most of the known examples are silver. Gold ones are much more rare, and with a total weight of 762.5 grams, this is the third largest Viking gold find ever made in Denmark.The first two bracelets were discovered by accident by a local resident. They were peeking out of the soil by a field road in a wooded area near Rold. He submitted them to the archaeological department at the Museums of North Jutland for danef assessment, Denmarks version of treasure trove. (All archaeological objects of historical importance found in the soil are by Danish law state property and must be declared to the authorities.)Recognizing the objects as rare gold bangles from the Viking period, archaeologists returned to the find site to investigate further. A metal detector scan of the wider area uncovered one more gold bangle in the same spot where the first two were found, and then three more of them about 50 feet away.Gold in the Viking Age was concentrated among the absolute elite of society, and that is precisely why finds of this type are extremely rare. The fact that two gold bracelets are found in the upper layers of the soil and without the use of a metal detector, and that four others subsequently turn up during an archaeological survey of the area, makes the find quite extraordinary in a Danish context, says Torben Sarauw and continues:The find includes gold bracelets with both twisted and smooth shapes, which together testify to a highly specialized goldsmiths craft, which also helps to make the find something quite special.Three of the rings are twisted from two rods, one of which has inlaid thin gold wire and a knob-shaped closure, while the others are smooth rings made of solid rod or wire. Several are finished with characteristic wrapped closures so-called running knots and one ring also carries a smaller, similar ring.One bangle is distinguished by flat-hammered, joined ends decorated with a zigzag pattern and triangles.All six of the pieces are intact and in excellent condition. They were not just valuable in monetary terms, but also as unmistakable symbols of status and power. At the time when these bracelets were made, Denmark was beginning to unite into a single unified kingdom, as broadcast by Harald Bluetooth in runes on the Jelling Stone around 965 A.D. They may have been gifts given to reward loyalty and encourage alliances between elites. With six of them buried together, they were likely deliberately deposited for ritual purposes.The find site is on private land and the exact location is being kept private. The archaeological examination of the place is now complete and the gold bangles are being analyzed, documented and conserved by experts. When initial cleaning and conservation is finished, the objects will be transferred to the National Museum.
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