Scientists spent 3 and a half years analyzing the Galloway Hoard treasure, including a lot of exquisitely crafted gold and silver jewelry, discovered by a metallurgist in Scotland.
According to The Independent, archaeologists confirm that this is the richest and most complex Viking-era treasure ever found in England. The first artifacts were discovered seven years ago by an amateur metal detectorist, or “treasure hunter.” Scientists spent a lot of time excavating, restoring and analyzing them, in which the research to understand the origin and historical value of the items lasted more than 3.5 years.
Some artifacts in the giant treasure found in Scotland – Photo: National Museum of Scotland
The research team led by the National Museum of Scotland (UK) conducted an “extensive investigation” using many means such as X-rays, CT scans, microscopy and molecular analysis, revealing this treasure. There are two very different types.
The way they were buried also shows this. In the treasure pit, the upper layer consists of beautiful silver ingots and silver crosses, exquisitely sculpted. Below this “secular” layer is an 8 cm layer of excavated gravel. If people dig up the gravel layer, they will see many other extremely strange artifacts. In addition to gold bars, silver and gold jewelry, there are also religious relics of extremely high value, not only because they are gold. silver but also because of their sacred meaning.
Initially the treasure was believed to belong to the Vikings, but the hidden layer underneath showed that it belonged to another group of people, buried in two layers to avoid the Vikings’ search. The time of burial was 900 AD.
A unique vase believed to be used in sacred rituals – Photo: NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND
In the sacred treasure below, the most notable are two tiny spheres of earth and gold dust, seemingly created as a holy relic. The soil used to roll in gold dust may have come from a place associated with the birth, baptism or burial of Jesus. A blue crystal is likely an “Anglo-Saxon bead”, a type of hagiography associated with an unidentified saint. There are also charms in the form of crystal balls.
Silver jewelry is extremely sophisticated and has huge value because of the historical secrets they contain – PHOTO: NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND
There are two unique vases, one of Persian or Middle Eastern gilded silver, the other of stone crystal with a gold spout, said to be used in the most solemn ceremonies. In addition, they found pieces of silk, also the earliest evidence of silk found in Scotland.
Commenting on the discovery, Dr Alex Woolf from the University of St Andrews said this strange treasure trove was “a very rare opportunity to capture a moment in the long history of the Viking age”.
