A major Viking hoard, described as the most important find of its type in Britain for more than 150 years, was unveiled to the press at the British Museum on July 19 2007.
The Harrogate Hoard was discovered in North Yorkshire by metal detectorists David and Andrew Whelan in January 2007. It consists of a gilt silver vessel that was packed with 617 silver coins and 65 other objects including a gold-arm-ring.
The father and son team kept the hoard intact and reported it to their local Portable Antiquities Scheme finds liaison officer. As a possible Treasure find, it was taken to the British Museum where conservators carefully excavated each item to avoid damage and loss of important information that might tell us about the context of its burial.
The hoard was declared Treasure under the terms of the Treasure Act (1996) by Mr Fell, HM Coroner for North Yorkshire. He described it as one of the most exciting cases he has ever had to rule on.
Conservation work at the British Museum revealed that, like other Viking hoards, it contains a mixture of different precious metal objects from coins, ornaments and ingots (bars) to chopped-up fragments known as hack-silver. They come from as far away as Afghanistan, Russia, Scandinavia, continental Europe and Ireland.
The most spectacular single object is the gilt silver vessel, which was made in what is now France during the first half of the ninth century. It was apparently made to be used in church services and was probably either looted from a monastery by Vikings, or given to them in tribute.
Most of the smaller objects were hidden inside this vessel, which was protected by some form of lead container. As a result, the hoard was extremely well-preserved.
Some 617 coins found include a number of new or rare types, which provide valuable new information about the history of England in the early tenth century and Yorkshire’s wider cultural contacts at the time. Interestingly, the hoard contains coins relating to Islam and to the pre-Christian religion of the Vikings, as well as to Christianity.
The hoard was probably buried for safety by a wealthy Viking leader during the unrest that followed the conquest of the Viking kingdom of Northumbria in AD 927 by the Anglo-Saxon king Athelstan (924-39).
A partnership of York Museum Trust, Harrogate Borough Council's Museums and Arts Service and the British Museum will now work together to buy it and put it on display.
"Finds such as this are invaluable in teaching us about our history,” said Culture Minister, Margaret Hodge.
“This remarkable discovery highlights the contribution both the Treasure Act and the Portable Antiquities Scheme continue to make towards our knowledge of the past. I commend David and Andrew Whelan for their prompt and responsible reporting of this hugely significant find, which will enrich our understanding of the Vikings."
The hoard will now go through the rest of the Treasure process, starting with a valuation for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport by the independent Treasure Valuation Committee.
In the meantime the partnership of museums will continue to develop more detailed plans to raise money for the acquisition, conservation and eventual display of the hoard. -- www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
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