Metal detectorist finds Finland’s largest known Viking Age silver hoard

A metal detectorist has found Finland’s largest known Viking Age silver hoard in Sysmä, Yle reports. The discovery includes thousands of late Iron Age silver coins with a combined weight of 4.5 kilograms.

The find was made on September 3. Esko Tikkala, an archaeologist with the Lahti museums, inspected it the following day. The Finnish Heritage Agency’s experts later excavated the entire hoard.

In addition to the coins, the site contained a silver bracelet and other silver objects. The items had been stored in two birch-bark containers buried less than half a metre deep between stones. The containers were about 12 metres apart.

The coins have not yet been cleaned or separated, so their exact number and total weight will be confirmed later. Further research will also establish their precise age.

The previous largest known Viking Age coin hoard in Finland was found in Nousiainen. It weighed just over two kilograms and contained about 1,700 coins.

Surprising discovery for experienced hobbyist

The hoard was found by Kalle Lappinen, who has been pursuing metal detecting for years. The location was one of his regular search sites, and several other hobbyists had also searched there. Lappinen said the landscape had attracted interest because it closely resembled the location where a silver hoard was found in Asikkala.

Lappinen initially stopped digging after detecting a signal deep in the ground because it appeared to be an ore signal.

“I did not believe it could be anything made by people,” he said.

He continued walking but detected a similar signal about eight metres away. When he began digging, old coins appeared. Encouraged by the find, he returned to the first location, where he also found coins.

Lappinen immediately notified the Finnish Heritage Agency. He described the moment as surprising.

“The main feeling was a slight disbelief. You dig up an enormous number of ore signals, so when you find a real object, it always comes as a bit of a surprise,” he said.

Most metal detector signals lead to nothing, according to Lappinen.

“Ninety-nine per cent of finds are rubbish or ore.”

When searching, Lappinen uses a small pointed shovel, a planting tool and a small mushroom knife. He generally digs with a shovel until a small handheld metal detector probe can locate the object in the hole. He then digs the final 10 centimetres more carefully.

Dream of finding an unknown burial cemetery

Lappinen began using a metal detector in the late 1990s but took an almost 15-year break. He resumed the hobby in 2017, encouraged by the growing popularity of metal detectors and the good finds people were making with them.

He has previously made archaeological finds, mainly objects connected with Iron Age burial cemeteries.

Lappinen’s dream is to find a previously unknown burial cemetery in Sysmä.

“Very few are known in Sysmä, so it would also provide a good basis for research. Ancient DNA research has advanced at an incredible pace in recent years,” he said.