On Tuesday archaeologists from The Swedish National Heritage Board found the biggest Viking Age silver hoard ever excavated in Uppland in modern times. The hoard consists of about 450 silver coins and was uncovered by an excavation of an Iron Age grave in Sundveda (Steningehöjden) near Arlanda Airport.

"This shows that the people who lived on the site had long-distance contacts", says archaeologist Karin Beckman-Thoor, who was present when the hoard was found.

The coins, many of which come from Baghdad and Damascus, are estimated to date from the period AD 500-840 and were probably buried around AD 850. They were on the edge of a grave that is likely to be almost 1,000 years older than the hoard.

It is very unusual for Viking Age silver hoards to be discovered by excavations. In Sundveda the archaeologists have been able to document the entire find, which is distinctive not just for its remarkable size but also for the fact that an unusually large proportion of the coins come from the Middle East. The first Swedish coins were minted about 150 years after the Sundveda hoard was buried. A similar hoard was found at Upplands Väsby in 1827.

"After the coins have been analysed and identified, we will be able to give a better picture of the context of the hoard", says Karin Beckman-Thoor.

The excavation, which was occasioned by housing construction on the site, is now completed and nothing remains at the find spot.

Persons to contact about the find spot:

Karin Beckman-Thoor, archaeologist, The Swedish National Heritage Board, Archaeological Excavations Department, UV Mitt, tel: +46 10 480 80 67, e-mail karin.beckman-thoor@raa.se
Louise Evanni, archaeologist, The Swedish National Heritage Board, Archaeological Excavations Department, UV Mitt, tel +46 10 480 80 72, e-mail louise.evanni@raa.se

Persons to contact at The Swedish National Heritage Board, Archaeological Excavations Department, UV Mitt:

Johan Anund, Unit Manager, tel +46 10 480 80 61,
e-mail johan.anund@raa.se
Christina Lindgren, Assistant Unit Manager, tel +46 10 480 80 62, e-mail christina.lindgren@raa.se

Contact:

Ulrika Salander - Press Manager, tel +46 8 5191 80 47, mobile +46 708 83 89 24

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