1000-years-old Viking treasure hoard discovered in Scotland

1000-years-old Viking treasure hoard discovered in Scotland

The item was contained inside a pot that was discovered in Galloway and included rare objects such as a silver brooch from Ireland and silk from around modern-day Istanbul as well as gold and crystal.

The artefacts dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries are part of a wider collection of around one hundred items, which experts  say is the most important Viking discovery in Scotland for more than a century.

“Before extracting the items, we took a very unusual measure of having the pot CT-scanned, so that we could get a rough idea of what was in it and the best-plan of the delicate extraction process,” said Richard Welander of Historic Environment Scotland.

That exercise offered us a tantalising glimpse but didn’t prepare me for what was to come.

“These stunning objects provide us with an unparalleled insight to what was going on in the minds of the Vikings in Galloway all those years ago.

“They tell us about the sensibilities of the time, reveal displays of regal rivalries and some of the objects even betray an underlying sense of humour, which the Vikings aren’t always renowned for.”

The items, found by metal detectorist Derek McClennan in September 2014, are now with the Treasure Trove Unit, which is responsible for assessing the value of the hoard on behalf of the Office of Queen’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer.

The hoard will then be offered for allocation to Scottish museums, with Mr McClennan eligible for the market value of the find – a cost that will be met by the successful museum.