Archaeologists recently discovered incredible artifacts from Viking graves in Norway – all thanks to a pair of metal detectors who accidentally stumbled upon the treasure.
Søren Diinhoff, an archaeologist from the University Museum of Bergen, spoke to Fox News Digital about the discovery on Tuesday. Viking graves were found at Skumsnes farm in Fitjar, located in southwestern Norway, in the fall of 2023, but initial excavation of the site was completed late last year.
Diinhoff said the graves were found by members of the Bjørgvin Detector Club, who immediately notified a local museum of the discovery. Archaeologists then set to work excavating the first two tombs, both of which date back to between 800 and 850 AD.
Diinhoff told Fox News Digital that the two tombs, filled with coins, jewelry and other treasures, belonged to wealthy women. In the first, excavators found “jewellery fragments indicating that it had been a rich grave with important grave goods”.
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Norwegian archaeologists recently discovered the findings of a Viking grave excavation. (Søren Diinhoff / University of Bergen)
“There were fragments of a pair of gilt oval brooches (also called turtle brooches) of Norse origin, (and) fragments of a southern England or Ireland-made metal cauldron/dish with enamel coating and animal-shaped handles,” a summary the first grave read.
One of the most interesting artefacts discovered was a book clasp that the Vikings seem to have reshaped as a clasp or brooch. Diinhoff explained that the clasp was likely raided by a Christian monastery in the British Isles before the ninth century.
“They put a needle in the back of the clips and they can be used as pins,” the expert described. “We think the clasp in the first grave could very well have come from a Bible in England or Ireland. It was torn off and returned to Norway, where it eventually ended up as a woman’s brooch.”
Mostly fragments were found in the first grave because the site was likely ransacked not long after the burial, Diinhoff said.
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Jewelry beads dating back to before AD 850 were among the excavation discoveries. (Søren Diinhoff/University of Bergen)
“We have a suspicion that the first grave was opened a long time ago. It may even have been opened in the Viking Age,” he explained, adding that grave looting was “not uncommon” during the Viking Age and that perhaps it was done either to steal valuables or to dishonor the dead.
“The finds were scattered in fragments at the top and around the tomb,” Diinhoff described. “The jewelry was broken into pieces, but the destruction was not obvious due to erosion. The broken surfaces indicated that the artifacts had been destroyed intentionally and most likely when the tomb was reopened.”
But the real treasure was found in the second tomb, which included precious objects ranging from textile production tools to high-class jewelry and coins.
“These tools indicate that the burials had skills, but more indicate that the buried woman was the leader of textile production on the farm. The production of high-quality textiles was prestigious and an important financial income,” the report explained. “A bronze key found in the grave symbolizes this woman’s central position. She was the bearer of the house key and, as such, the leader of the farmhouse. (What is) perhaps a pan in the grave indicates the same.”
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“Near the brooches we found a pearl necklace,” the research report added. “It consisted of 46 glass beads of various European and Scandinavian origins and 11 silver coins were placed between the pearls.”
One coin was struck in Jutland between AD 832 and 840, while the others were Frankish and were produced under the reign of Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne. Louis died in 840 AD
Finds from the dig included a valuable brooch (left) and a pin that was once used as a Bible clasp (right). (Søren Diinhoff /University of Bergen)
In general, Diinhoff said that trade between Anglo-Saxons and Vikings was not unusual, although not all “trade” was necessarily voluntary. He believes the coins in the second tomb were traded, while the bookbinding was stolen during a raid.
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In total, archaeologists completely excavated two of the women’s graves and were able to analyze a third that was not fully excavated but contained a gilded brooch and 25 glass beads. Historians also believe that the descendants may have been part of the same Viking family.
Diinhoff noted that there was a sense of urgency about excavating the other graves at the site, of which there are at least 20.
“We are afraid that they will be destroyed in time”, said the expert of the Vikings. “These are found just below the ground and there are many ways they can be destroyed…We hope to be able to dig a few graves every year.”
Diinhoff also expressed gratitude for the metal detectors that found the site.
Archaeologists believe that many more tombs are found at the site. (Søren Diinhoff/University of Bergen)
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“Without them ‘finding’ the site in the first place, we would not have known about the site,” the archaeologist said. “Since the graves we found were slightly below the ground, they are very exposed and would likely have been lost over time. Now we have a chance to excavate this small grave.”
