Hiddensee treasure

The Hiddensee treasure

The Hiddensee treasure was found in 1873 on the German island of Hiddensee in the Baltic Sea by chance, during rebuilding after significant flooding in 1872 and 1873.[1]

Description and dating

Closeup of some pendants.

The treasure consists of 14 pendants, a brooch, and a neck ring, all of gold weighing a total of 600 grams. It is the largest discovery of Viking gold artifacts in Germany.

The jewelry dates from the late Viking Age, c. 10th century. The pendants include both Norse pagan and Christian symbols - Thor's hammer of Mjölnir and the cross. It is possible that the jewelry originally belonged to the family of the Danish King Harald Bluetooth.[1][2]

Exhibition

A replica of the Hiddensee treasure can be seen today in the Hiddensee Local History Museum. The original is kept in the Stralsund Museum of Cultural History and will be on display there from December 2015.[2]

See also

Further reading

References

  1. 1 2 Staatliche museen zu Berlin – Official website
  2. 1 2 "Der größte wikingische Goldschatz Deutschlands" (in German). Stralsund Museum. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
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