Beginner’s Luck Leads to Incredible Discovery: In a stroke of genuine luck, newcomer treasure hunter Ole Gierp Schytz stumbled upon a remarkable find after just a few hours of using his new metal detector. Buried beneath the surface near the town of Jelling in southwestern Denmark, he unearthed a rare collection of 1,500 gold artifacts dating back five centuries to the Iron Age. This discovery, made in December, is now considered one of Denmark’s most significant and groundbreaking finds, showcasing a tremendous achievement for the novice in the field.
Schytz recalls the sound of the machine powering up, then seeing the soil being shifted to uncover a tiny, contorted piece of metal.
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Speaking with TV Syd, Felix Allé of the Sun quotes Schytz as describing the find as “pure luck at its finest.” Schytz further expresses, “Denmark spans over an area of 16,621 square miles, yet I managed to stumble upon the precise spot where this discovery took place.”
As per information provided, the haυɩ is mainly made up of bracteates, which are medallions that were trendy in northern Europe during the Migration Period from 300 to 700 C.E. These pendants, often inscribed with magical symbols or runes, were worn by women for protection.
Many of the symbols found on the recently unearthed bracteates are recognizable to experts, according to Mads Ravnielsen, head of research at the Vejle museums, as reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP). Deciphering these symbols will provide insight into the enigmatic societies that lived in the region before the Vikings.
One of the medallions showcases the Norse deity Odin and seems to be influenced by Roman jewelry that honored emperors as deities, as mentioned by TV Syd.
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Items found in the hidden collection include ancient gold coins from the Roman Empire that were transformed into decorative accessories. Among the coins is one featuring Constantine the Great, a ruler who reigned from 306 to 337 C.E. This indicates that Jelling, renowned as a center of Viking civilization between the 8th and 12th centuries, was a significant hub of power with extensive trading connections across Europe, as reported by ArtNet News.
The flawless craftsmanship of the objects suggests that their original owner likely held a prestigious status.
According to archaeologists, they believe that the gold was buried either to protect it from invaders or as a final offering to the gods. The discovery is estimated to be around 536, during a volcanic eruption in Iceland that blanketed the sky with ash and led to widespread famine in Scandinavia. Other collections of gold found in the area, such as 32 artifacts unearthed on the island of Hjarnø, have also been dated to approximately the same period.
