Category: This. Is. Treasure.

Archaeologists have uncovered a remarkable Viking Age site in Sweden revealing an extraordinary silver treasure buried over a millennium ago. Among the most stunning finds was a ceramic vessel which contained silver neck and arm rings, a silver amulet, beads, and 12 coin pendants made of European and Islamic coins dating between 904 and 997 CE. The coins had been minted in Persia, Bavaria, Bohemia, Normandy, and England.

[Copied from Viking-era silver treasure and farm discovered in Täby, Sweden]

An early Medieval silver gilt bow fibula (brooch) found in a woman’s grave in Lauchheim, dating around 600 [C.E.]. Decorated with animal interlace, the foot ends in a stylized animal head.

Bow brooches were a common element of women’s dress in south-west Germany. They were worn im pairs as decorative element on a strap hanging from the belt.

[Archäologisches Landesmuseum Baden-Württemberg.]

Medium: Ceramic.

Culture: Attic Greek

Date: circa 540–525 B.C.E.

Dated 2nd Century B.C.E.

The early Celtic “prince” of Hochdorf was buried with two bronze daggers with so-called antenna-hilt, one of which was elaborately covered with gold foil for the burial—a symbol of the deceased’s social rank.

Dating around 530 BCE.

On display at Landesmuseum Württemberg

Place of Origin: Thailand.

Date: circa 17th century C.E.

Dimensions: 6.7 cm.

Dated 3rd Century B.C.E.

[Credit: Hermann Historica auction]

Made from gold, amethyst, chalcedony, emerald, rock crystal, and pearls.

Place of Origin: Greek Black Sea colony of Olbia (modern-day Ukraine).

Date: circa Late 2nd Century B.C.E.

A gold Mycenaean brooch in the form of an octopus, circa 1500 B.C.E.

[Archaeological Museum, Mycenae.]

Consists of a circlet of gold and jewels fitted around a central silver band, which tradition held to be made of iron beaten out of a nail of the True Cross.

The crown in its current state is the result of two different works made between the 4–5th and the 9th century C.E.