Erlend Bore, a 51-year-old man from Rennesoey near Stavanger in southern Norway, recently made an extraordinary discovery while using his metal detector. Bore had purchased the metal detector in an effort to get more exercise and explore a new hobby. His usual finds consisted of scraps of metal and the occasional modern coin. However, one day his metal detector began beeping incessantly, leading him to a stunning find just five inches below the soil.
Initially, Bore thought he had stumbled upon chocolate coins or plastic pirate treasure. It was a surreal moment for him. However, what he had mistaken for chocolate turned out to be something far more valuable – a collection of gold jewelry dating back to around 500 AD. The treasure consisted of nine gold pendants, three gold rings, and ten gold pearls. Weighing in at approximately 3.5 ounces, the discovery has been hailed as the “find of the century” by experts.
The gold pendants, known as bracteates, are flat, thin, single-sided gold medals. They are believed to belong to the migration period in Norway, a time of widespread migration in Europe which lasted from 400 to about 550 AD. These pendants, along with the gold pearls, were part of an extravagant necklace worn by the elite members of society. Skilled jewelers created this jewelry, making it a truly remarkable and rare find.
Upon making the discovery, Bore promptly delivered the jewelry to the local museum. Unfortunately, according to Norwegian law, any objects predating 1537 and coins older than 1650 are considered state property and must be surrendered. Consequently, Bore will not be allowed to keep his valuable find. Instead, the gold jewelry will be exhibited in Stavanger, a city located about 200 miles southwest of Oslo for public viewing. This discovery is particularly extraordinary as no similar find has been made in Norway since the 19th century, making it a significant archaeological find in a Scandinavian context.