A father and son were out in a field participating in one of their favorite pastimes that they do together. The two of them love to grab their metal detectors and go searching for hidden treasures. For years they’ve gone out searching and never really found anything too crazy. Then one day everything changed when they came across a treasure so spectacular that they couldn’t believe their eyes…
20. Father & Son
Image: The Telegraph
David Whelan, 53, and his son, Andrew, 37, love spending time together. One of their favorite pastimes is going to open fields with their metal detectors. They love to go searching and hunting for buried treasure!
19. Many Years
Image: Getty Images
For many years, the father and son metal detector team would go out into random fields in Britain. Throughout those years they found a few things here and there, but never anything spectacular. However, all of that would soon change when they came across an outstanding treasure.
18. Harrogate
Image: Harrogate Informer
David and Andrew decided to head out to an open field in Harrogate, a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. They pulled out their metal detectors and began to walk around the field. For a while they weren’t really picking up on anything.
17. A Noise
Image: Daily Express
As the men continued to walk around the field, one of their metal detectors began to sound off. They were thrilled at the prospect of finally discovering something. The two of them quickly got to digging in the area that the metal detector went off.
16. Single Coin
Image: Countryfile.com
As the men began to dig, they came across a single coin close to the top of the grass on the field. At first, they figured that this would be a sufficient find for the day. After all, they had never come across a coin like this before in their past digs.
15. A Hunch
Image: Daily Mail
However, something prompted the men to keep digging. So the two of them continued to dig and dig until they came across something extraordinary. Staring them in the face was a huge buried treasure of gold and silver coins.
14. Shocked
Image: The Telegraph
The men were shocked by what they had just come across. The treasure that they came across happened to be a Viking hoard of jewelry. It seems that the treasure had been buried for over 1,000 years! The men knew they had to alert someone to this amazing discovery.
13. Huge Value
Image: The Vintage News
Experts that looked over the treasure have valued it at £1,082,000. Eventually, the treasure was eventually purchased by the British Museum and the York Museum Trust after two years of fundraising. However, the Whelans are expected to keep half of the value of the treasure along with the owners of the field.
12. Last Resort
Image: Regton Metal Detectors
“It was a last resort really,” said David Whelan, 60. “We have been in that field several times and have found nothing more than a few pieces of metal and 90 buttons. We were sweeping and then I got a signal. I took a couple of shovels of soil and there was a stronger signal.”
11. Unbelievable Discovery
Image: Daily Mail
“The contents of the hoard we found went far beyond our wildest dreams and hopefully people will love seeing the objects on display in York and London for many years to come.” One of the most amazing discoveries of the entire hoard is an intricately carved silver cup, estimated to be worth more than £200,000. However, that’s not all…
10. Silver Coins
Image: Daily Mail
Inside of the treasure hoard, there were 617 silver coins. All of these coins and various treasures happened to come from a variety of different countries. Some of the countries were Afghanistan, Russia, Ireland, and Scandinavia. So who did the treasure belong to?
9. Rich Viking
Image: Daily Mail
It is believed that the treasure originally belonged to a very rich Viking. It is believed that he buried the treasure during the unrest following the conquest of the Viking kingdom of Northumbria in 927 by the Anglo-Saxon king Athelstan. Since it would have been dangerous to return, the rich Viking was never able to go back for his treasure.
8. Viking Era
Image: Pinterest
Conservation work on the treasure started around a month ago. Experts hope that by studying the treasure that they will be able to better understand the Viking era. They may be able to piece together clues in order to have an insight into the history of that era.
7. Intricate Designs
Image: www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk
So far, experts have been able to see quite intricate design details on the coins. These designs weren’t visible when the treasure was first discovered. However, now with the help of a microscope they could see just how finely detailed they are.
6. Small Incisions
Image: Realms Of Gold The Novel
While studying the coins, experts were able to see that the coins had very small incisions made in the metal. Through this discovery, the experts were able to deduce that the makers actually tested the silver before they began to work on it. This has been a huge discovery…
5. Curator Insight
Image: Countryfile.com
Gareth Williams, curator of early medieval coins and Viking expert at the British Museum, said: “There’s been nothing like it for over 150 years. The size and range of material gives us an insight into the political history, the cultural diversity of the Viking world and the range of cultural and economic contact at that time.”
4. Exciting Find
Image: ancientgifts.biz
Barry Ager, curator of European objects at the British Museum, said: “It is an extremely exciting find, not just because it is the biggest and best for 150 years. The fact that the items come from all over the world shows the huge extent of the Vikings’ commercial links.”
3. Once In A Lifetime
Image: www.culture24.org.uk
“The Vale of York Viking hoard is a once in a lifetime find. It will greatly add to the understanding of the early 900s in Yorkshire and its connections with the wider world,” explained Mary Kershaw, director of collections at York Museum. Soon all of the treasure will be out on display for the world to admire.
2. Going On Display
Image: The Daily Beast
According to recent news, the treasure is set to be on display at the Yorkshire Museum in York from September 17 until November 1. It will then travel to the British Museum where it will be placed on display there as well. Many people are already getting in line to be able to see the treasure.
1. Amazing Finds
Image: videohive.net
David and his son Andrew never would have expected to find a Viking treasure hidden so far deep in the earth. It just goes to show that will a little persistence and elbow grease, just about anything is possible!