A metal detectorist on the Isle of Man has discovered a Viking Age silver ingot. A Coroner’s Inquest has declared the 1,000-year-old item to be a Treasurer.
Discovered by metal detectorist John Smart, the ingot weighs 10.53 grams and is uncut. These items are difficult to date precisely, but examples found previously on the island range in date from around AD 900 – 1040. The ingot is the latest item of Viking Treasure discovered on the island, where more Viking Age silver has been found per square kilometre than England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Photo courtesy Manx National Heritage
“Ingots like this were used in the Viking world for trade,” says Allison Fox, Manx National Heritage Curator for Archaeology. “The ingots were weighed and tested to make sure of their silver content and they were used in part or in whole to buy whatever a Viking needed. It was a cross-border currency. During the later Viking Age, ingots were used alongside coinage. This ingot may only be a small artefact, but put into context, it helps illustrate how the Isle of Man was a part of the international Viking trade network 1000 years ago including how the Viking economy operated and where on the island trade was taking place.”
In addition to silver, lead and copper were also used in ingots during the Viking Age. This particular ingot had some signs that it may have had a low silver content, so scientific analysis was carried out determine silver content and whether the ingot would fall within the definition of Treasure.
With the assistance of Dr Nicola George, Research Technical Professional for the University of Liverpool, Manx National Heritage tested the ingot with both x-ray fluorescence and a scanning electron microscope. The results showed that the ingot is composed mostly of silver, and Manx National Heritage can now say with confidence that the ingot has a silver content of over 88%.
“Manx National Heritage are very grateful to both the finder and landowner for their assistance and support with this interesting find, and also to Dr George for enabling the scientific analysis,” Allison Fox added.
A metal detectorist on the Isle of Man has discovered a Viking Age silver ingot. A Coroner’s Inquest has declared the 1,000-year-old item to be a Treasurer.
Discovered by metal detectorist John Smart, the ingot weighs 10.53 grams and is uncut. These items are difficult to date precisely, but examples found previously on the island range in date from around AD 900 – 1040. The ingot is the latest item of Viking Treasure discovered on the island, where more Viking Age silver has been found per square kilometre than England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
“Ingots like this were used in the Viking world for trade,” says Allison Fox, Manx National Heritage Curator for Archaeology. “The ingots were weighed and tested to make sure of their silver content and they were used in part or in whole to buy whatever a Viking needed. It was a cross-border currency. During the later Viking Age, ingots were used alongside coinage. This ingot may only be a small artefact, but put into context, it helps illustrate how the Isle of Man was a part of the international Viking trade network 1000 years ago including how the Viking economy operated and where on the island trade was taking place.”
In addition to silver, lead and copper were also used in ingots during the Viking Age. This particular ingot had some signs that it may have had a low silver content, so scientific analysis was carried out determine silver content and whether the ingot would fall within the definition of Treasure.
With the assistance of Dr Nicola George, Research Technical Professional for the University of Liverpool, Manx National Heritage tested the ingot with both x-ray fluorescence and a scanning electron microscope. The results showed that the ingot is composed mostly of silver, and Manx National Heritage can now say with confidence that the ingot has a silver content of over 88%.
“Manx National Heritage are very grateful to both the finder and landowner for their assistance and support with this interesting find, and also to Dr George for enabling the scientific analysis,” Allison Fox added.
The ingot is now on display in the Viking and Medieval Gallery at the Manx Museum. Click here to visit the museum website.
Top Image: John Smart pictured with the 1,000-year-old Viking silver ingot. Photo courtesy Manx National Heritage
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