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19/07/2007
Viking treasure found by father and son
Items found by a father and son and described by experts as the most important hoard of precious Viking artefacts discovered in Britain for 150 years, has been declared as treasure.
David and Andrew Whelan discovered the treasure, which includes 617 silver coins and a gold arm-ring, in January.
They kept their find intact and reported it to local officials who then had the items transferred to the British museum for examination by conservators.
The objects were declared as treasure at a court hearing in Harrogate on Thursday.
Among the objects, which come from Afghanistan, Ireland, Russia, Scandinavia and continental Europe, is a gilt silver vessel, which appeared to be intended for use in a monastery.
The British Museum said that most of the smaller objects were extremely well preserved as they had been hidden inside the vessel, which was in turn protected by some form of lead container, which meant that the treasure was well preserved.
The museum suggested that the treasure had probably been buried for safe keeping by a Viking leader during the unrest after the conquest of the Viking kingdom of Northumbria in AD 927.
The museum also said that the coins, which included several new or rare types, could provide valuable information about the history of England in the early 10th century.
The treasure will now be valued for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport by the Independent Treasure Valuation Committee.
(KMcA)
David and Andrew Whelan discovered the treasure, which includes 617 silver coins and a gold arm-ring, in January.
They kept their find intact and reported it to local officials who then had the items transferred to the British museum for examination by conservators.
The objects were declared as treasure at a court hearing in Harrogate on Thursday.
Among the objects, which come from Afghanistan, Ireland, Russia, Scandinavia and continental Europe, is a gilt silver vessel, which appeared to be intended for use in a monastery.
The British Museum said that most of the smaller objects were extremely well preserved as they had been hidden inside the vessel, which was in turn protected by some form of lead container, which meant that the treasure was well preserved.
The museum suggested that the treasure had probably been buried for safe keeping by a Viking leader during the unrest after the conquest of the Viking kingdom of Northumbria in AD 927.
The museum also said that the coins, which included several new or rare types, could provide valuable information about the history of England in the early 10th century.
The treasure will now be valued for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport by the Independent Treasure Valuation Committee.
(KMcA)
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