'Biggest surprise of my life': Homeowner discovers Denmark's largest Viking Age silver hoard in their backyard

A Danish homeowner building a terrace in their backyard made an astonishing discovery that would rewrite history – the largest Viking Age silver hoard ever found in the country. Over 40 pounds of ancient silver, approximately 700 objects in total, lay buried in the ground. The hoard includes silver bars, jewelry, 47 whole coins and fragments, and a Thor's hammer, a symbol of Norse gods. About 320 items were found in a clay vessel while the rest lay in the soil nearby.

The treasure, roughly 1,100 years old, is three times larger than the previous largest silver hoard from Denmark's Viking Age. One silver bar even bears runes, potentially representing a person's name or owner's mark. Two Anglo-Saxon silver pennies minted during King Edward the Elder's reign (899-924) were also discovered, suggesting the hoard dates to the 10th century. Islamic coins in the hoard suggest strong connections between Viking Age Denmark and distant regions.

Cultural heritage manager Torben Sarauw of North Jutland Museums says the hoard reveals how people stored, organized, and hid wealth during the Viking Age. The objects are organized into specific weight groups, indicating it was an important storage of wealth, not a random assortment. The true reason for the hoard's burial remains a mystery, possibly hidden near a Viking settlement, along a now-vanished road, or in a secret location. The treasure is now being assessed at the National Museum of Denmark.