In an astonishing stroke of beginner’s luck, Ole Ginnerup Schytz, a novice treasure hunter armed with a new metal detector, stumbled upon a treasure trove of 1,500 gold artifacts dating back five centuries to the Iron Age. The discovery, made near the town of Jelling in southwestern Denmark, has been hailed as one of the most significant and expansive finds in the country’s history.
Schytz, recalling the moment of discovery, described it as “the epitome of pure luck.” In a recent interview with TV Syd, he expressed amazement at having chosen the exact spot where this historic collection lay buried, considering Denmark’s vast expanse.
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The cache primarily consists of bracteates—medallions popular in northern Europe during the Migration Period (approximately 300 to 700 C.E.). Worn by women for protection, these pendants were often inscribed with magical symbols or runes. Mads Ravp, the director of research at the Vejle museums, highlighted the unfamiliar symbols on the bracteates, suggesting that interpreting them could offer insights into the little-understood societies that inhabited the region before the Vikings.
Among the treasures, a medallion depicting the Norse god Odin stands out, reminiscent of Roman jewelry that celebrated emperors as gods. Additionally, gold coins from the Roman Empire, featuring figures like Constantine the Great (306 to 337 C.E.), repurposed into jewelry, were part of the remarkable cache. This implies that Jelling, known as a cradle of Viking civilization, was a hub of power with extensive trade connections across the European continent.
The meticulous craftsmanship of these artifacts indicates the high status of their original owner. Archaeologists theorize that the gold may have been buried either to protect it from invaders or as a last-ditch offering to the gods. The discovery is dated to around 536, coinciding with a volcanic eruption in Iceland that covered the sky in ash and led to widespread famine in Scandinavia. Similar gold troves found in the region around the same time, including one on the island of Hjarno, further support this hypothesis.
