Gardener Finds Denmark's Largest Viking Silver Hoard in Rebild

A homeowner in Rebild recently discovered Denmark's largest Viking silver treasure. He found the historic hoard while digging a garden patio. The find offers a rare glimpse into ancient Danish heritage and history.

The owner was clearing grass, stones, and gravel in his yard. His shovel struck metal after half an hour of digging. He pulled silver jewelry, coins, and ingots directly from the soil. The total weight of the silver exceeds 18.5 kilograms so far.

This find is three times larger than Denmark's previous record hoard. Around 320 objects were found inside an old clay pot. These items weighed 6.4 kilograms on their own. The rest of the treasure lay in the surrounding garden dirt. In total, archaeologists found bracelets, silver bars, and a small Thor's hammer. They also found 47 whole coins alongside ancient silver fragments.

The coins come from both England and the Islamic world. This proves that Viking Denmark had wide trading connections across Europe and Asia. Archaeologist Torben Sarauw from Museums of North Jutland called the find spectacular. He stated that it shows how Vikings used silver as money. The discovery was originally reported by news outlet The Local.