Found Islamic Coins Hidden Inside Viking Age Shield Boss

[Thunderhaw Decorah]

Found Islamic Coins Hidden Inside Viking Age Shield Boss

By ThorNews on February 14, 2015   • ( 10 )

 


Viking Age Shield Boss Norway

Remains of a leather purse with several Islamic coins were found inside this shield boss. (Photo: Åge Hojem / NTNU Museum of Natural History and Archaeology)

In August 2014 a hobby archaeologist found a Viking Age sword with metal detector in a field in Skaun, just south of Trondheim in Central Norway. Now, archaeologists have examined the finding and have some exciting news about the owner.

Having examined the grave, archaeologists at the NTNU Museum of Natural History and Archaeology in Trondheim tell NRK that it is dated to about the year 950. In addition to the sword, researchers found the remains of a shield.

– We have not managed to find out who owned the sword, but we know that he was a well traveled man, says archaeologist Ingrid Ystgaard.

Radiographs show that there is an inscription on the sword blade that tells that it probably has been produced outside Scandinavia.

Swords with inscriptions were not common and show that it was of very high quality, unless it was a copy.

Spain or Constantinople?

Other evidence that the grave belongs to a man who had traveled widely was found in a leather purse hidden inside the shield boss: The purse contained several Islamic coins.

But where do the coins come from?

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[Thunderhaw Decorah]

The Viking sword in the Skaun grave with the shield boss placed right below. (Photo: Ragnar Vennatrø / NTNU Museum of Natural History and Archaeology)

[Thunderhaw Decorah]

Arabs (Moors) conquered Spain in the year 711 while Norwegian Vikings came to Spain in the 800s. They plundered, among other cities, Seville in 844. Maybe the coins have been stolen in Spain?

Or has he got hold of them when he travelled eastwards following the Volga trade route?

The Vikings traveled all the way to Constantinople by rowing and sailing down the Russian rivers – and maybe the coins have been payment for slaves, or furs and walrus ivory?

Sign of Combat

The archaeologists found several signs that the grave belonged to a Viking. In addition to that he was buried with his sword and shield at his side, the shield boss showed that the owner had been in combat.

– The shield boss has a clear cut mark by an ax or a sword. If he died in combat, we do not know, says Ystgaard.

But who was this man and what was he doing in Skaun? The answer the archaeologists are not able to give – at least not yet.

    See also: Viking Dogs Followed Their Masters to Valhalla

 

 

Text modified by: Thor Lanesskog, ThorNews

Sources: NRK, Store norske leksikon


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