Strange sound leads homeowner to unearth massive Viking silver hoard while digging for new patio

A homeowner preparing the yard for a new patio recently made an incredible find — and it’s been declared the largest known Viking Age silver hoard ever discovered in Denmark.Officials from North Jutland Museums in northern Denmark announced the discovery on Aug.31.The hoard was discovered by a private citizen who was preparing the ground for a new tiled terrace, according to a statement from the museum.The homeowner, who wished to remain anonymous, called the discovery “the biggest surprise of my life” after stumbling upon the hoard while doing yardwork.“It should have been just a few hours of hard gardening to remove stubborn grass, stones and gravel in relation to a new tiled terrace,” the person said.About half an hour into the work, the homeowner struck “something that made a strange sound.”The person added, “At first I thought it was old iron or fence wire as well as some potsherds, but when I started digging with my hands, I could suddenly fish one metal object after another out of the ground.”The individual said that “after a short time of careful work, it dawned on me that it was jewelry, coins and silver bars.”The hoard, which was buried in a clay vessel, is believed to date to the 10th century.

It contains around 700 objects and fragments, including silver ingots, bracelets, coins, a small Thor’s hammer and various pieces of cut silver.It’s Denmark’s largest known Viking Age silver hoard, according to North Jutland Museums.The find eclipses the previous record holder — a roughly 14-pound Terslev hoard — and weighs nearly three times as much.Some 320 objects with a total weight of 14 pounds were still in the original clay vessel, while the rest were found in the ground around the site.The homeowner will not keep the treasure.Under Danish law, the hoard belongs to the state — though the finder is eligible to receive a reward.The discovery came after archaeologists recovered six Viking Age gold arm rings from the same are...