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Mystery or the unexplained · 2019

Viking coins of a troubled Saaremaa

In autumn 2019, only weeks after a famous gold find, a licensed metal detectorist on Saaremaa reported another discovery to the Heritage Protection Board. It turned out to be two separate hoards of Viking-era silver coins. One of them came from the Lümanda and Kihelkonna area in the west of the island. The coins of one hoard, from the second half of the 10th century, had travelled the Viking trade route from Gotland to Saaremaa's southern coast. According to numismatist Mauri Kiudsoo, the hoards were probably buried during upheaval or conflict, and they point to destruction on Saaremaa in the second quarter of the 11th century. The exact spot was not published; the pin is approximate.

Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today

Eesti keeles

2019. aasta sügisel, vaid mõni nädal pärast kuulsat kullaleidu, teatas üks litsentsiga metallidetektorist Saaremaal Muinsuskaitseametile uuest leiust. Selgus, et tegu on kahe eraldi viikingiaegsete hõbemüntide aardega. Üks neist pärines saare lääneosast, Lümanda ja Kihelkonna kandist. Ühe aarde mündid, mis olid 10. sajandi teisest poolest, olid jõudnud Saaremaa lõunarannikule Gotlandilt viikingite kaubateed mööda. Numismaatik Mauri Kiudsoo sõnul peideti aarded tõenäoliselt rahutuste või sõja ajal ning need viitavad hävingule Saaremaal 11. sajandi teisel veerandil. Täpset leiukohta ei avaldatud ja kaardinõel on ligikaudne.

Map of the area around Viking coins of a troubled Saaremaa
58.28562° N, 22.05292° E · Map: Maa- ja Ruumiamet

Source: ERR News, 5 October 2019. ↗

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