Norway: Walked on doctor's advice, then found 1,500-year-old treasure

Fifty-one-year-old Erlend Bor came across the discovery of the century in Norway armed with only a metal detector after his doctor recommended that he needed to be more active and exercise. Bor dug up nine gold pendants, three rings, and 10 gold beads on the island of Rennesoy.

Just as he was planning to finish his walk and head home, the metal detector started to beep.

„At first I thought they were chocolate coins. It was completely unbelievable,“ Bor said in a statement from the University of Stavanger.

The Norwegian contacted archaeologists who continued the search.

The total „loot“ found weighs just over 100 grams and dates from around 500 AD, known in Norway as the Migration Period.

According to Norwegian law, all historical artifacts older than 1537 and coins from before 1650 are considered state property, and finders are required to hand them over.

Professor Hakon Rejersen from the Museum of Archaeology at the University of Stavanger said the plaque-like pendants were thin, flat, and unifacial. Together with the gold beads, they formed a „very striking necklace.“.

According to him, the necklace was worn by very important figures in society. A similar discovery was last made in Norway in the 19th century.

SOURCE: RTS PHOTO: SCREENSHOT