Father and Son Discover Viking Treasure

There are 617 silver coins, a gold arm-ring and a gilt silver vessel along with 65 other objects. These are the contents of a recent discovery of a Viking treasure trove in Yorkshire, Great Britain, which British Museum authorities are calling "phenomenal." A father and son engaging in their week-end metal detecting hobby found the hoard in a field after getting a "really strong signal from the detector." Dr. Jonathan Williams of the British Museum said many of the objects are "fantastically rare" and others hope the find with provide much new information about the history of England during this period. As a first guess, experts are postulating that the treasure was perhaps hidden by some Viking leader during the chaotic period surrounding the conquest of the kingdom of Northumbria around 927 A.D. Objects in the treasure come from all of the world (Afghanistan, Russia, Ireland and continental Europe), giving researchers insight into the culture contacts of Viking England.