Viking Treasure Found In Yorkshire

Loads of Viking treasure has been discovered in a field in Yorkshire. It's the most important find of its kind in 150 years.

The treasure, held in a beautiful gilt silver vessel (pot) contains a total of 617 silver coins and 65 other objects, as well as a gold arm-ring.

Here it all is - how's that for bling?

It was found by a father and son, David and Andrew Whelan, who were out metal-detecting in January 2007.

They reported their discovery straight away to an expert at the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS).

Here you can see all the items in the hoard (collection) still packed into the silver vessel, covered in earth, as they were found.

The PAS were really pleased that the Whelans had left the hoard inside the vessel and not removed any of the items, as this could have damaged them.

The items were later taken out of the vessel one by one, very carefully, by museum experts.

The PAS are the people who need to know about anything old and special you find.

This is because of a law called the Treasure Act, which you can read more about on the PAS's PASt Explorers website.

This looks like it was made to hold something together - it has a hook on one end and a sharp point on the other.

We think it might have been a cloak pin - what do you think?

The treasure was probably buried for safety by a wealthy Viking leader after the conquest of the Viking kingdom of Northumbria in AD 927 by the Anglo-Saxon king Athelstan.

Those Vikings certainly got around - there are items from countries as far apart as Afghanistan, Ireland, Russia and Scandinavia.

The gilt silver vessel which contained the hoard was made in France in the early 9th century.

It would have been used in church services and was probably either stolen from a monastery by Vikings, or given to them as a present.

If you look closely at the engraving on the outside of the vessel, you can see a a picture of a deer, which looks like it's running away from something - maybe a hunter?

Want to find out more about the Vikings?

Check out Show Me's Vikings section for Viking-themed games and makes.

If all this talk of Vikings has inspired you and you have your storytelling cap on, why not write us a Viking Saga?

© Show Me

There are also some fantastic museums where you can find out more about what it was like to live in Viking times. Here are just a few:

The British Museum, London
The National Maritime Museum, London
Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery
Jorvik Viking Centre, York
Maes Howe Chambered Cairn, Orkney (here you can see Viking graffiti carvings - although rumour has it that some of it is a bit rude!)
Armagh County Museum, County Armagh

Once the hoard has been valued by the Government, York Museums Trust and The British Museum will work together to buy it, learn more about it and put it on public display.

All images of the treasure are © The British Museum.