According to a press release from the Vejlemuseerne Museum in Denmark, where the valuable artifact display was recently discovered, among the excavated exhibits, there were nearly 1kg of pure gold artifacts buried 1,500 years ago.
The museum described "as one of the largest, richest and most beautiful gold treasures in Danish history to date," a newcomer scout named Ole Ginnerup Schytz discovered in Vindelev, near the town of Jelling, Central Denmark.
The head of the research department at the Vejlemuseerne Museum, Mads Ravn, said he was surprised to receive a photo of the precious artifacts from Schytz.
Schytz had recently purchased a metal tracker and within just a few hours after starting a search on a friend's land, he discovered the treasure trove.
Archaeologists from the Vejlemuseerne Museum have coordinated with colleagues from the National Museum to continue excavating this site and adding "huge medals on the size of plates".
The museum added that the artifacts were buried in a long house by a leader of the Iron age.
In the 6th century, the leader attracted skilled craftsmen to the area, and later buried a large gold warehouse. Although it is unclear exactly why gold was buried, researcher Ravn believes it was an offering to the gods.
Some experts believe that the gold was buried to hide during the war. Ravn dismissed this, saying the combination of artifacts suggested it was more likely an offering - with large medals decorated and Roman coins made into jewelry.
The wealth expressed through the large amount of gold shows that the Vindelev region was a center of power at that time. Only members of the upper class of society can collect a treasure trove as precious as the treasure found here, explains Vejlemuseerne, a researcher at the Vejlemuseerne museum.
Researchers suspect that a climate crisis, caused by a volcanic explosion in 536 AD, may have led to the burial of these artifacts. The volcano released ash clouds, hunger occurred and people used gold jewelry to offer to the gods.
The newly excavated collection of gold artifacts is expected to be displayed at the Vejlemuseerne museum in early 2022, then continue to be displayed at the National Museum.
