Now that is one amazing discovery anyone would love to make.
A woman in southern Norway has discovered a valuable Viking treasure. The woman stumbled upon an unexpected treasure of 32 iron ingots from the Viking Age or early Middle Ages while cleaning her parents’ home, shedding new light on the region’s history.
Woman Discovers Valuable Viking Treasure
Grete Margot Sørum of Valdres, southern Norway, found as many as 32 Viking Age or early Middle Ages iron ingots while cleaning her parents’ house. The ingots, which had been stored there since the 1980s, contribute valuable information about the region’s history, it has been reported. These iron bars probably served as a form of currency during both the Iron Age and Middle Ages. They were crafted from iron sourced from Valdres and share identical casting.
The Importance of Iron in the Viking Age
During the Viking Age, iron held significant importance and was used for weapons and boat-building rivets. Most of the iron from that era was smelted from bog iron, with Valdres being a region known for its substantial iron production.
Unearthing Valdres’ Iron Trade History
The discovery of the ingots in Aurdal, Valdres, highlights the extensive trade that took place in the region over 1,000 years ago. Sørum remarked on the fascinating history of the trade route, noting that the ingots might have been intentionally hidden in the area.
Viking Treasure: Uniform Ingots as a Form of Payment
The iron bars, all of the same shape and size and weighing approximately grams, were likely used as a form of payment, with holes at the ends indicating they might have been tied together in a bundle.
Preserving the Discovery for Future Research
Sørum handed over the ingots to the Valdres Folkemuseum in Fagernes, which then forwarded them to the Cultural Heritage Section in Innlandet County. The ingots have since been delivered to the Cultural History Museum in Oslo for cataloging and storage, making them accessible for future research and dissemination.
