Gold pendant dating back to 500 AD discovered by Jan Arild Gjersøe in Tønsberg

Jan Arild Gjersøe recently discovered a gold pendant while metal detecting in a field in Tønsberg, which experts estimate dates back to around 500 AD. The pendant, classified as a gold bracteate—a term derived from Latin referring to thinly made objects—was highlighted by museum specialist Marte Spangen from the Cultural History Museum at the University of Oslo as one of the year’s remarkable finds.

This is not Gjersøe’s first discovery; last year, he uncovered part of a similar pendant in Høyjord, Sandefjord. He elaborated that when his metal detector signaled a metallic finding, he initially suspected it was merely scrap. The moment he realized what he had, he couldn’t help but laugh.

Among the special discoveries noted this year, Spangen mentioned a well-preserved gold ring adorned with amethyst from the 1200-1300s, found in Stange municipality, and a unique tutulus button from Vestre Toten that provides new insights into bronze age artifacts in the region. Such findings are rare, and the gold pendant, which displays imagery including a human head and a four-legged animal, is believed to have been worn for status and possibly protection.

The Cultural History Museum has received over 3,000 submissions from metal detecting hobbyists this year alone, surpassing previous years’ totals. While the museum anticipates a record for finds, it recognizes that some items may have been submitted from late previous years. Many of these new discoveries are attributed to the growing popularity of metal detecting and advancements in affordable technology.