Discovered a silver jar more than 1,000 years old

Many silver bracelets, necklaces and coins were kept in jars and buried under a Viking house.

Archaeologists found many necklaces

bracelets and coins at Viggbyholm, Taby city, tatkuink Greater Stockholm, Sweden, Ancient Origins reported on December 3. Through previous excavations, they knew there was a Viking village here. However, the new findings were beyond all expectations.

In 2019, scientists found traces of a farm more than 1,000 years old at Taby. This summer and fall, they continued to research the site and found the remains of about 20 houses from the late Iron Age and early Middle Ages. Ancient people may have lived here for several centuries. 

During the excavation of a house

the team of experts also discovered a jar containing 8 silver necklaces, bracelets and many coins from different countries.

Archaeologists rarely find such intact items as this silver treasure, not to mention they are still in a house. "Arriving at one location, the metal detector received a very strong signal and we knew that an interesting discovery was ahead," said archaeologist Magnus Lindberg.

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Bracelets, necklaces and silver coins buried in jars. Photo: Acta Konserveringscentrum AB.

Bracelets, necklaces and silver coins buried in jars. Photo: Acta Konserveringscentrum AB.

Some coins come from far away, which is evidence of Taby's trade and communication with other parts of the world during the Viking era. There are five Arab silver coins called dirhemes and several European silver coins, one of which originates from the city of Rouen in Normandy, France. The French coin is a very unique find, possibly dating back to the 900s and having only appeared on two older paintings, according to professor Jens Christian Moesgaard at Stockholm University.

In many cases

the reason the ancients buried womens skull clothing such silver jars or valuables was to hide their possessions when something went wrong. However, this is not necessarily true of the silver jar at Taby, according to archaeologist John Hamilton. Lindberg also said that the silver jar was first buried in the 11th century, but there are traces of it being dug up.

Since the mid-18th century, about 20 such "treasures" have been found in Stockholm county. However, most are accidental findings, appearing during construction or other work. The new find at Taby is the fourth treasure by professional archaeologists.