28 March 2024 The Future is the Product of the Past

One of the greatest gold treasures in Danish history found in Vindelev

Near the town of Jelling in Denmark, one of the biggest treasures ever found dating from the sixth century has been found.

One of the largest, richest, and most beautiful gold treasures in Danish history was found at Vindelev, just outside Jelling.

Ole Ginnerup Schytz had just purchased a metal detector and was wandering the fields when he stumbled upon the gold, according to the Vejle Museum, where the hoard will be displayed.

The treasure, which weighs just under a kilogram, includes a medallion the size of a saucer and approximately 22 gold objects.

The discovery of an enormous amount of gold indicates that the site was a powerhouse in the Late Iron Age. The discovery was made around six months ago, but it was kept a secret until now.

Golden treasure after excavation. Photo: Vejlemuseerne
Golden treasure after excavation. Photo: Vejlemuseerne

“Although the place-name Vindelev can be associated with the time of migration, there was nothing to suggest that an unprecedented warlord or great man lived here long before the Danish kingdom emerged in the following centuries,” said Mads Ravn, research director for Vejlemuseernes.

Mads Ravn said in his statement at the Vejle Museum: “In the early 500’s this man chose to close the treasury. Maybe to save him in case of war, maybe as a victim of higher powers.”

The Vindelev treasure consists of saucer-sized medallions and Roman coins turned into jewelry. Most important, a heavy gold coin from the Roman emperor Constantine the Great (285-337 AD). Some of the objects have runic patterns and inscriptions that may allude to the kings of the time, but also to Norse mythology.

One of the finds is a bracteate with a series of runes and a braided male head. He is seen in front of a horse under the head and a bird communicating with the man. Between the muzzle and forelimbs of the horse is a runic inscription, which reads ‘houaʀ’ according to early interpretations; ‘Supreme’.

Vindelev treasure
The gold haul is one of the biggest ever found in Denmark Photo: Copyright Konserveringscenter Vejle

‘Supreme’ may refer to the ruler who abolishes the find, but is associated with the god Odin in later mythological contexts.

According to preliminary studies, the wealth might have been placed as a sacrifice to the gods during a tumultuous time when the climate in northern Europe was turned upside down following an ash-filled volcanic explosion in Iceland in the year 536.

Some believe that the foundation of Viking Age society and a unified Danish kingdom lay in this period.

More than 40 kg of gold from these centuries was found during the Iron Age. But the size, quantity, and technical details of the objects in the treasure now found in Vindelev are completely unique.

The treasure will be on display at the museum in Vejle from February 2022.

Source: Vejle Museerne

Related Articles

An Egyptian Tomb Decorated with Magic Snake Spells Discovered

9 November 2023

9 November 2023

During excavations at Abusir, between Giza and Saqqara, archaeologists at the Czech Institute of Egyptology (CIE) found an ancient tomb...

An Elamite inscription attributed to Xerxes the Great was found at Persepolis

26 February 2022

26 February 2022

During the classification and documentation project of inscribed objects and fragmentary inscriptions in the Persepolis Museum reserves, experts discovered a...

Rare Ancient Bone Game found in Israel “Astragali”

18 August 2022

18 August 2022

Archaeologists have found a rare assemblage of animal knucklebones known as astragali used in ancient Greek games and divination in...

16 New Ancient Rock Art Sites Discovered In Jalapão, Brazil

13 March 2024

13 March 2024

Archaeologists at Brazil’s National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (Iphan) discovered 16 new archaeological sites while surveying a large...

Remains of 14th-century Synagogue thought to be one of largest in region discovered in Poland

14 August 2023

14 August 2023

The remains of what is thought to be a sizeable 14th-century synagogue complex, including a mikvah, have been discovered during...

Jordan Valley Reveals Earliest Cotton Use in the Ancient Near East

18 December 2022

18 December 2022

During excavations at Tel Tsaf, a 7,000-year-old town in the Jordan Valley, Israeli archaeologists discovered the earliest evidence of cotton...

Archaeologists found a noble woman buried beside her ‘husband’ 1,000 years ago with the top of her face hollowed out

4 November 2023

4 November 2023

Archaeologists unearthed the 1,000-year-old remains of a woman with her face and head hollowed out buried next to her husband...

Ancient Chinese porcelain worth 1 million euros was stolen from the German museum, sparking anger

15 September 2023

15 September 2023

Nine pieces of historic Chinese porcelain worth around €1 million were stolen from the Museum for East Asian Art (Cologne)...

Persian-era plaster walls were discovered during excavations at Zeyve Höyük in central Turkey

2 August 2022

2 August 2022

This year’s excavations at Porsuk-Zeyve Höyük (Zeyve Mound) near the Porsuk village of the Ulukışla district of Niğde, located in...

Drought accelerated Hittite Empire’s collapse

9 February 2023

9 February 2023

Researchers have offered new insight into the abrupt collapse of the  Hittite Empire in the Late Bronze Age, with an...

New Insights From Researchers About The World’s Longest Aqueduct

11 May 2021

11 May 2021

The Roman Empire’s aqueducts are magnificent specimens of the art of architecture. Although centuries have passed since these aqueducts were...

Ancient objects found in Jerusalem could be hand grenades used 1000 years ago, New study says

27 April 2022

27 April 2022

New analysis into the residue inside ancient ceramic pots from 11th–12th century Jerusalem has found that they were potentially used...

Archaeologists in Israel are restoring the largest Roman Basilica in the country

6 June 2021

6 June 2021

Archaeologists in Israel are trying to rebuild a 2,000-year-old Roman-era basilica that is thought to be the country’s biggest. A...

Archaeologists deciphered the Sabaean inscription on a clay jar finds link between King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba

3 April 2023

3 April 2023

Archaeologists deciphered a partially preserved inscription that was found on the neck of a large jar dated back to the...

3000 years old wooden wishing well discovered in Germany

7 January 2023

7 January 2023

In the town of Germering, in the Germany state of Bavaria, archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a well-preserved Bronze...