Two gold rings suddenly popped out of the ground during a forest walk in Denmark. Now, the find has grown into one of the largest Viking gold treasures found in the country - with possible links to Harald Bluetooth's power elite.
An unusual find in a wooded area near Rold in Danish Himmerland has led to one of the largest gold discoveries from the Viking Age in Denmark. A man walking in the area noticed two gold rings sticking out of the ground by a field road. When archaeologists later investigated the site, they found four more solid gold bangles.
The six rings together weigh just over 760 grams and the find has been named ”Roldskatten”. According to Nordjyske Museer, it is the third largest Viking Age gold find in Denmark.
– It's a truly remarkable find. We simply haven't seen anything like it here at the museum before, says Torben Sarauw, head of the cultural heritage department and archaeologist at Nordjyske Museer.
May have belonged to the power elite under Harald Bluetooth
The rings date to the 10th century, a period when Denmark was coming together as a more unified kingdom under Harald Bluetooth. Archaeologists believe that the gold probably belonged to people with strong links to the early kingship.
Gold was concentrated in the highest echelons of society at the time, and bangles of this type are associated with power, status and political networks. Many of the rings are elaborately designed with twisted shapes, decorative clasps and details that show highly developed craftsmanship.
– It is not the peasants who have worn these arm rings. Arm rings of this kind were reserved for noblemen or the king, says Sarauw.
The find will be shown to the public
Moreover, all six rings are completely intact, making the find unusual. According to archaeologists, this suggests that the rings were not used as a means of payment, but rather as symbols of loyalty, rank and belonging.
The find will now be further analyzed by the National Museum of Denmark. The aim is for the Roldskatten to be exhibited at Aalborg Historical Museum later this year so that the public can see the find up close.
