GabyA collection of ancient silver coins had been waiting for treasure hunters in the Scottish county of Dumfries and Galloway for over 700 years. Experts believe the treasure, consisting of 8,407 silver coins, is the largest ever discovered in Scotland.
Artifacts from the 13th-14th centuries were excavated in a field near the village of Danskor by amateur archaeologists armed with metal detectors. The treasure was named the Danskor Treasure.
After the initial discovery, the site was explored by official representatives of the National Treasure Department and archaeologists from the National Museum of Scotland. Now, specialists are cataloging the remarkable find, the publication reported. Daily Mail .
According to scientists, such an incredible number of ancient coins will be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. However, the exact amount will be disclosed after a thorough evaluation.
Professional archaeologists have reported that the treasure mainly contains pennies from the era of Kings Edward I (1239-1307) and Edward II (1284-1327). The collection also includes monetary rarities minted in continental European countries.
Archaeological finds from the COVID era
In recent years, there has been a boom in discoveries by amateur archaeologists using metal detectors in the United Kingdom. During the pandemic, the country registered 12,263 artifacts submitted by amateur archaeologists. The recently discovered coins are just a small part of the vast array of treasures that these seekers have stumbled upon.
Under Scottish law, any artifact of archaeological significance must be reported to the authorities.
The volume of finds in recent years is so impressive that the National Treasure Department of Scotland had to hire additional staff.
Every week, the department records an average of 200 new finds. Each item requires identification, photographing, measuring, and weighing.
Currently, experts will try to determine why the coins were buried. There have been instances where money and other valuables became objects of ritual sacrifice. Alternatively, they may have been hidden for another reason and then never returned to.
To things The Dancorian antiquities were discovered near Balmaha, where the Galloway hoard was found in 2014. Archaeologists They recognized it as the most valuable collection of Viking-era artifacts ever found in Great Britain. It was valued at nearly two million pounds sterling.
