A recent incident in the suburbs of Stockholm, Sweden, has sent shockwaves through the archaeological community. A man, while digging for fishing worms near his summer cottage, accidentally unearthed a severely corroded copper pot filled with a massive trove of ancient silver coins, rings, bead strings, and pendants, weighing about 6 kilograms (nearly 13 pounds). Preliminary estimates suggest there may be more than 20,000 silver artifacts in total, hailed as one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in modern Swedish history.
According to reports from Fox News and the New York Post, official photos released show the artifacts piled high, with a dazzling array of coins and jewelry in excellent condition. Some coins bear the name of 12th-century Swedish King Knut Eriksson, while others come from Gotland Island, featuring church designs, and “bishop’s coins” depicting a bishop holding a crozier. Such coins were often minted by commission of Medieval European churches, making them highly valuable for both historical and religious research.
The Stockholm County Administrative Board stated that the man reported the find to local authorities immediately in accordance with the Cultural Environment Act. Archaeological teams quickly arrived at the site to conduct a survey and catalog the artifacts. To prevent outside interference, officials have not yet disclosed the specific location.
Antiquities officer Andersson remarked that, despite years of corrosion, the copper pot’s contents were exceptionally well-preserved, which is rare. “This may be the largest and most complete early medieval silver hoard ever found in Sweden. We estimate that there could be as many as 20,000 silver coins.”
● If Government Acquires, Discoverer Can Receive Reward
According to Sweden’s Cultural Environment Act, anyone discovering silver artifacts or treasures must report them to authorities and submit them to the national collections institution for authentication. Authorities will decide whether to acquire the items and provide the finder with a reward according to law. Andersson praised the man’s integrity, calling him “a model citizen for lawfully reporting discoveries.” She revealed that pending evaluation, the treasures are likely to be preserved and displayed at the Swedish National Museum.
This accidental discovery has sparked a new wave of “amateur archaeology fever,” reminiscent of recent European stories of ordinary people unearthing treasures. In 2023, a British electrician unearthed medieval coins in a field, and in 2020 a UK family found Tudor-era silver coins in their backyard. Now, this “worm-digging turns to treasure” adventure may well become a legend in Swedish archaeology.