Metal Detector Finds Viking Hoard

Amateur Treasure Hunters In Line For Big Payday

A father and son metal detecting team unearthed the most important Viking treasure hoard in Britain for more than 150 years, it was announced today.

David and Andrew Whelan discovered the treasure, which includes 617 silver coins, a gold arm-ring and a gilt silver vessel, in the Harrogate area in January.

The British Museum said the hoard was of global significance.

The father and son detecting team kept the find intact and reported it to their local Finds Liaison Officer.

It was then transferred to the British Museum where conservators carefully excavated each find to avoid damaging the individual objects or losing important contextual information.

The medieval objects come from as far apart as Afghanistan in the East and Ireland in the West, as well as Russia, Scandinavia and continental Europe, the British Museum said.

The most spectacular single object is a gilt silver vessel, made in what is now France in the first half of the ninth century.

It was apparently intended for use in church services, and was probably looted from a monastery by Vikings, or given to them in tribute.

Most of the smaller objects were hidden inside this vessel, which was itself protected by some form of lead container. As a result, the hoard was extremely well-preserved, the British Museum said.

The coins include several new or rare types, providing valuable new information about the history of England in the early tenth century, as well as Yorkshire's wider cultural contacts in the period.

The hoard contains coins relating to Islam and to the pre-Christian religion of the Vikings, as well as to Christianity.

It was probably buried for safety by a wealthy Viking leader during the unrest that followed the conquest of the Viking kingdom of Northumbria in AD 927 by the Anglo-Saxon king Athelstan (924-39).

At a Treasure Trove Inquest in Harrogate today, North Yorkshire Coroner Geoff Fell declared the hoard as a treasure under the terms of the Treasure Act (1996).

He said: "Treasure cases are always interesting, but this is one of the most exciting cases that I have ever had to rule on.

"I'm delighted that such an important Viking hoard has been discovered in North Yorkshire.

"We are extremely proud of our Viking heritage in this area."

Margaret Hodge, Culture Minister, said: "Finds such as this are invaluable in teaching us about our history.

"This remarkable discovery highlights the contribution both the Treasure Act and the Portable Antiquities Scheme continue to make towards our knowledge of the past.

"I commend David and Andrew Whelan for their prompt and responsible reporting of this hugely significant find, which will enrich our understanding of the Vikings."

The hoard will now be valued for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport by the Independent Treasure Valuation Committee.

The British Museum, York Museum Trust and Harrogate Borough Council's Museum's and Arts Service will work on raising money for the acquisition, and to exhibit the hoard once it is acquired.

Outside court today, the Whelans said the find was a "thing of dreams".

Father David Whelan, 51, who is semi-retired and from Leeds, said the hoard was worth about £750,000 as a conservative estimate.

Under the Treasure Act the find will be valued, with the finders entitled to half its worth and the landowner entitled to the other half, he said.

At a British Museum press conference, experts said the find was of great historical significance and gave a fresh insight into British history.

Curator Jonathan Williams said: "This find tells a different story for that period in history.

"The find is crucial to our understanding of how England fits together."

Barry Ager, Viking curator for the British Museum, said: "Some of the dates on the coins suggest a different political situation to that which is recorded in Anglo Saxon chronicles in terms of the extent of the rule of King Athelstan.

"One coin is inscribed Rex Totius Britanniae which means King of the whole of Britain.

"It is the first time a king had been claiming to be king of the whole of Britain."

The British Museum commended the Whelans.

Michael Lewis, deputy head of the Treasure Scheme at the Museum, said: "The fact that the finders resisted the temptation to tip the hoard out is remarkable.

"They resisted that and instead they took it to the Liverpool Liaison Officer.

"That gave the museum the opportunity to investigate the hoard."

The curators believe the treasure belonged to someone of very high rank.

There are only two cups of this type in the country and only seven in the whole of Europe.

It is believed the cup may have been used as a container for sacramental bread.

Museum experts say the coins provide tangible evidence of Viking trading networks.

A spokesman for the British Museum said: "This is a hugely exciting find in terms of the amount it can tell us.

"We are hoping to learn so much from it and hope that conservation over the next couple of months will reveal a lot more information."

Although the value of the find has not been established, estimates by the British Museum suggest the figure to be around £1
million.