What began as a casual walk recommended by a doctor, became an adventure that opened a portal to the past, when Erlend Bore, a 51-year-old Norwegian, took a surprising discovery.
Your metal detector His newly acquired possession, purchased as part of an effort to increase his physical activity, led him to unearth gold artifacts dating back to the 6th century.
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This event caught the attention of the archaeological community, being hailed as the “gold discovery of the century” in Norway.
(Photo: Anniken Celine Berger/Archaeological Museum/Reproduction)
Before an aspiring archaeologist, Bore saw his childhood dream come true in an unexpected twist of fate, when, even without meaning to, he found several gold items.
His quest for more exercise turned into an archaeological adventure, unearthing items that could be on display in a museum. The treasure found contains nine pendants, three rings and ten gold beads.
Their initial guesses of finding mere “chocolate coins” or trinkets similar to those of the fictional Norwegian pirate Captain Sabertooth were quickly dispelled. “It was totally surreal,” exclaimed Bore.
Weighing just over 100 grams, these relics offer a rare glimpse into Norway's Migration Period (400 – 550 AD. C.), an era marked by broad population migrations throughout Europe.
Associate Professor Håkon Reiersen linked the hoard to this period, emphasizing the importance of flat, thin, single-sided gold medals known as bracteates.
These pendants, engraved with the representation of a horse, Norse mythology, were part of a luxurious necklace worn by the most influential people of the time.
Ole Madsen, director of the Archeology Museum at the University of Stavanger, did not hesitate to express his admiration, stating: “It is the gold discovery of the century in Norway.”
The last find of this magnitude was made in the 19th century, making the discovery of Bore a truly rare event in the country.
The location and nature of the items suggest that these valuables may have been hidden or offered to the gods during turbulent times, according to Professor Reiersen.
Under Norwegian law, both Bore and the landowner will receive a reward for this discovery. However, the exact value has yet to be determined.
