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The most important hoard of Viking treasure to be discovered in 150 years has been bought for £1 million and will be shown by the British Museum.
It will share the coins, ornaments and ingots with the York Museums Trust, which contributed £30,000 for the find discovered by father and son metal detector enthusiasts David and Andrew Whelan.
Jonathan Williams, the British Museum's keeper of prehistory and Europe, said today that it was a find of “global significance”.
It shows the extent of trading routes from Britain in the early 10th century when the Vikings controlled swathes of England.
The most spectacular object is a gilt silver vessel, made in France or western Germany, which was either looted by the Vikings or given in tribute. There were also 617 coins and more than 60 other objects coming from as far away as Afghanistan and Russia. The hoard secured a grant of £507,100 from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, which buys treasures for the nation. The Art Fund charity gave £250,000 and another £200,000 was raised through a public appeal.
David, 62, and Andrew, 37, from Leeds, found the collection in 2007 near Harrogate, North Yorkshire. David said: “We always dreamed of finding a hoard, but to find one from such a fantastic period of history is just unbelievable.” Finders of precious metals must report them to the local coroner and if it is ruled to be treasure must offer it to a museum at a price set by independent experts.
Dr Robert Bewley, from the NHMF, said: “This find provides us with a unique and wonderful snapshot of troubled times in Britain and Europe.” Conservation work has started and the first restored objects are unveiled today.
Reader views (3)
That's ours, give it back.
- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark, 28/08/2009 09:42
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It seems to me that people using metal detectors find quite a lot of things yet archeologists want to ban the hobby. I wonder how much the decectorists have handed in and how much they have changed our understanding of history throught their finds?
- Gary, London, 27/08/2009 13:43
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To ask the public for money to pay the finders of this collection, who I assume had only a small outlay, seems illogical. I am sure an agreement could have been reached on a much lower sum on the condition that the Museum would never sell it.
- Patrick, Dalston, 27/08/2009 09:36
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