Archaeology & History

Viking treasure hoard found in Scotland

By T.K. Randall
October 13, 2014 ·  19 comments

The Vikings were no strangers to the British Isles. Image Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0 Ardfern Enthusiast Derek McLennan had been exploring fields in Dumfries when his machine indicated that it had picked something up. As he dug down to see what it was he was amazed to discover that he'd uncovered an extensive treasure trove of Viking-era ingots, crosses and jewelery that dated back more one thousand years.

Archaeologists have celebrated the find as one of the most significant Viking hoards ever found in Scotland."It was tremendously exciting, especially when we noticed the silver cross lying face-downwards," said Rev David Bartholomew who had also been present at the time of the discovery.

Culture secretary Fiona Hyslop praised the find and emphasized its historical significance.

"It's clear these artefacts are of great value in themselves, but their greatest value will be in what they can contribute to our understanding of life in early medieval Scotland, and what they tell us about the interaction between the different peoples in these islands at that time," she said.

Source: Scotsman | Comments (19)

Tags: Viking, Scotland