Most important Viking Treasure find in 150 years discovered by
metal detectorists in North Yorkshire
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 Trea
sure 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.