A metal detectorist in Finland has unearthed a massive Viking Age silver hoard, estimated to contain more than 4,000 coins, the largest discovery of its kind in the country.
The hoard was found near the village center of Sysmä, a town about 105 miles northeast of Helsinki, by metal detectorist Kalle Lappinen on September 3. Lappinen promptly reported the discovery to authorities, and archaeologists from Lahti Museums began recovering the silver the next day.
The hoard consists of thousands of silver coins, hack silver, a silver bracelet, a mount, and a bead, according to a museum release. The coins, which weigh approximately 10 pounds in total, are believed to date to between 1000 and 1050 A.D. and include coins from present-day Sweden, Britain, and Germany, as well as dirhams from areas now part of Turkey and Iran.
Lahti Museums archaeologist Esko Tikkala oversaw the recovery of the hoard and noted that its sheer size was a surprise. "Instead of the tens or few hundreds of coins we usually encounter, this find contains thousands," he said. Tikkala added that the discovery suggests Sysmä was an important hub during the Late Iron Age, with trade connections extending in multiple directions.
The hoard is also significant because it more than doubles the number of Viking Age coins found in Finland, with over 14,000 now known to exist, compared to just 7,000 about 25 years ago. The identity of the hoard's owner remains a mystery, with several theories proposed about why the silver was buried.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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