Roman remains unearthed by archaeologists at Exeter Cathedral
New Discoveries from the Roman era have been uncovered by archaeologists investigating the historic cloister garden at Exeter Cathedral in Exeter, England.
Exeter Cathedral
These discoveries include remnants of an early Roman street, timber buildings, and the wall of a Roman town house that was later overlaid by the foundations of the medieval cloisters.
During the Roman period, present-day Exeter was known as Isca Dumnoniorum, also known simply as Isca, which was a Roman legionary fortress for the Second Augustan Legion.
The town grew up around this fortress and served as the tribal capital of the Dumnonians under and after the Romans.
According to archaeologists, these findings provide “new clues to Exeter’s distant past” and offer a clearer understanding of what the site would have looked like in Roman times.
The street and timber buildings are estimated to date from around AD 50-75 and were part of the Roman legionary fortress that underlies central Exeter.
The Roman structures have been revealed as part of a major building project
They likely formed a section of a lengthy barrack building that extended towards the grand stone bath-house revealed under the Cathedral Green in the early 1970s.
The later stone wall belongs to a previously unknown town house from the 3rd and 4th centuries.
This work is part of a project to construct a new cloister gallery that will connect the cathedral with its Chapter House and Pearson buildings.
The gallery will be built on the medieval foundations of the original cloisters, which were destroyed in 1656.
The funding for this project is being provided by Exeter Cathedral’s 2020s Development Appeal, which aims to raise £10 million in addition to the £6 million already received in grants and donations.
The funds will support essential improvements and a calendar of community activities and events designed to make the ancient Devon landmark accessible and sustainable for the future.
Well-Preserved 3,000-Year-Old Pre-Viking Sword Unearthed in Denmark is Still Sharp
Two locals from Zealand, Denmark’s largest island, decided to walk around the field in the remote west city of Svebolle in the evening.
The decision was fortuitous to take their metal detector with them because it would allow them to uncover a major find
The two amateur archeologists began digging after the device alerted Ernst Christiansen and Lis Therkelsen to something beneath the ground.
The visible decorations on the hilt of the sword.
Around 30 cm down, they spotted what looked like the tip of a spear. Christiansen and Therkelsen contacted Museum Vestsjælland — a group of 11 local museums that cover the archaeological excavation and conservation of regions in the area — who revealed that the discovery was a 3,000-year-old sword from the Nordic Bronze age.
It was also a testament to the craftsmanship of the people in Scandinavia at the time.
“The sword is so well-preserved that you can clearly see the fine details. And it is even sharp,” the museum wrote in a press release.
Museum inspector Arne Hedegaard Andersen holds the discovery
Museum inspector Arne Hedegaard Andersen, who joined Christiansen and Therkelsen on the day following the discovery, reaffirmed how incredibly maintained the sword was.
The Nordic Bronze Age, circa 1700-500 BC, was sandwiched between the Nordic Stone Age and the pre-Roman Iron Age. During this time period, bronze imported from Central Europe replaced previously popular materials like flint and stone.
The impressively preserved bronze sword, which predates the Vikings by around 1,000 years, remained untouched since the Bronze Age. About 32 inches long and still fairly sharp, the museum believes that it dates to phase IV of the Bronze Age, or between 1100 and 900 BC.
Though the leather that made up the sword’s grip had long rotted, the pommel and hilt show intricate bronze work, clearly decorated by skilled workers.
The details suggest that it was an expensive piece of weaponry, likely used to indicate status rather than in actual battle. Additionally, warriors during this time tended to use clubs, spears, or axes for fighting purposes.
Though the Scandinavian people joined the Bronze age through trade relatively late compared to other European nations, the local workmanship was of a higher standard.
So although the religion, ethnicity, and language characteristics of the people during this time period are largely unknown, they left behind a rich archaeological legacy.
Museum inspector Arne Hedegaard Andersen holds the discovery
One of the main ways we know about life in Scandinavia during the Bronze Age is through rock carvings called petroglyphs, which depict images of daily life, great events, and supernatural beliefs of the time.
There have been several exciting archaeological discoveries in Denmark in recent years.
In June 2016, the team of three archaeologists who call themselves Team Rainbow Power uncovered the largest-ever find of Viking gold.
In October 2016, the discovery of a 5,000-year-old stone map shed light on ancient farming and topography.
In 2015, a trove of 2,000 mysterious-looking gold spirals also from the Bronze Age was discovered on Zealand
Archaeologists Uncover Well-Preserved Teeth of Ancient Vampire Skeleton in Eastern Europe
Archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery in a remote village in Eastern Europe: the well-preserved teeth of an ancient vampire skeleton.
The skeleton was found in a grave near the village, surrounded by other graves dating back to the Middle Ages.
The vampire’s remains were identified by its unusually long fangs and the fact that the body had been buried face down, a traditional method of ensuring that the undead could not rise from the grave.
Despite being buried for centuries, the vampire’s teeth were remarkably well-preserved.
According to the archaeologists who discovered the skeleton, the teeth were in excellent condition, with no signs of decay or damage.
Archaeologists discovered what may be the skeleton of a 17th-century female “vampire” near Bydgoszcz, Poland.
The discovery of the vampire’s teeth is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it provides us with valuable insight into the beliefs and practices of medieval societies.
The belief in vampires was widespread in Europe during the Middle Ages, and many people believed that the undead could rise from their graves and terrorize the living.
Secondly, the discovery of the vampire’s teeth could help researchers better understand the biology of vampires.
While vampires are fictional creations, the characteristics that define them are often based on real-life medical conditions.
For example, people with porphyria, a rare genetic disorder, are sensitive to sunlight and can experience severe pain in their teeth and gums.
Archaeologists in Poland discovered a “vampire” skeleton with a sickle over the throat.
Finally, the discovery of the vampire’s teeth is a reminder of the enduring appeal of the undead in popular culture. From Bram Stoker’s Dracula to the Twilight saga, vampires continue to capture our imagination and remain a source of fascination for people around the world.
Overall, the discovery of the well-preserved teeth of an ancient vampire skeleton is a significant archaeological find.
It provides us with a window into the beliefs and practices of medieval societies, and may even help us better understand the biology of vampires.
Archaeologists Discovery 1.8 Million-Year-Old Human Tooth in Georgia
Archaeologists in Georgia have found a 1.8 million-year-old tooth belonging to an early human species.
Scientists say the find labels the region as home to one of the earliest prehistoric archaic human settlements in Europe.
Scientists discovered the tooth near the village of Orozmani, about 100 kilometers southwest of Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi.
The latest discovery provides further evidence that the mountainous South Caucasus region was likely one of the first places early humans settled after migrating from Africa, experts said.
The Molar Found in Georgia is believed to be up to 1.8 Million-Year-Old
Orozmani is located near the city of Dmanisi, where human skulls aged 1.8 million years were found in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Dmanisi’s findings were the world’s oldest such discovery outside of Africa, and one that changed scientists’ understanding of early human evolution and migration patterns.
Giorgi Bidzinashvili, the scientific leader of the dig team, said he considers the tooth belonged to a “cousin” of Zezva and Mzia, the names given to two near-complete 1.8-million-year-old fossilized skulls found at Dmanisi.
“The implications, not just for this site, but for Georgia and the story of humans leaving Africa 1.8 million years ago are enormous,” said British archaeology student Jack Peart, who first found the tooth at Orozmani.
“It solidifies Georgia as a really important place for paleoanthropology and the human story in general,” he told Reuters.
The oldest Homo fossils anywhere in the world date back to around 2.8 million years ago, when a partial jaw was discovered in Ethiopia, reports DW.
Scientists believe that early humans, a species called Homo erectus, probably began migrating out of Africa about 2 million years ago.
Ancient tools dating back around 2.1 million years have been discovered in modern-day China, but sites in Georgia hold the oldest remains of early humans found outside of Africa.
Anatomically modern humans, Homo sapiens, are thought to have appeared around 300,000 years ago, although estimates vary, in Africa.
Underground Labyrinth With Secret Passages, Tunnels In Dobrogea Plateau, Romania
In many cases, the world below us is just as fascinating as the ground we walk on. Across Europe, there is a hidden, often millennia-old subterranean realm of tunnels stretching from the north in Scotland leading down to the Mediterranean.
It is an underground world of never-ending tunnels, massive caves, and labyrinths dug by unknown ancient men. There are also underground labyrinths that have not been fully explored yet.
One of them is located about 52 kilometers from Constanța, historically known as Tomis, the oldest continuously inhabited city in Romania.
Limanu Cave’s secret, and still unexplored passages and roads. The network gallery actually resembles a city street map, like the street network of an ancient city developed chaotically, thus the impression of an underground city.
A Vast Underground City Where You Can Get Lost
This vast labyrinth of 12 hectares lies beneath the plateau of Limanu. Researchers started to investigate the place in 1916 and discovered traces left by humans, carved walls and ceilings, and ancient ceramic fragments.
Drawings and inscriptions in Roman and Cyrillic alphabets on the walls prove the cave was inhabited between the 1st century BC and the 10th century AD.
The labyrinth is vast, with a total length of passages of approximately 3.5 km. Dacians used it to hide from the Roman proconsul Marcus Licinius Crassus (c. 115 B.C. —53 BC), who played a vital role in transforming the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. The cave’s early inhabitants used a marking system to avoid getting lost.
The network of galleries resembles a city street map like the street network of an ancient city developed chaotically, thus the impression of an underground city.
Approximately 4,000 meters in length, Limanu Cave is the longest in Dobrogea. It has a chaotic branching of galleries, like the street network of an ancient city.
Some researchers believe that at least some of the galleries were entirely dug by human beings, as there are tooling marks on the walls. Certainly, Limanu Cave represented an important human refuge, even since Dacian times.
Remarkable Galleries
Some of the galleries have rectangular, very regular sections, and it seems humans carved them as signs of chiseling are visible. In order to avoid the collapse of ceilings, supporting walls and pillars were built in limestone slabs.
The drawings of galloping horses are of particular interest, while their riders have faces displayed from the front. Their silhouette and presentation strikingly resemble those of Dacian riders depicted on pottery discovered in many settlements in the area inhabited by Thraco-Dacians.
The earliest drawings are very likely from the prosperous time of the Geto-Dacian culture, the time when the cave was furnished as well. Other pictures show Christian religious symbols, letters, or words in the Cyrillic alphabet. This artwork belongs to the Roman-Byzantine period and the subsequent times.
Surveys have revealed archaeological material proving that local Dacians inhabited the cave even in that era. Existing evidence allows us to assume that a local Geto-Dacian authority ordered the maze of Limanu as a defense measure against the Roman danger.”
According to Ph.D. Adina Boroneant, “Vasile Pârvan” Institute of Archaeology, Romanian Academy, the Limanu Cave was a shelter for the local population until later, 10th-11th centuries AD.
The account of Dio Cassius shows that the cave was a place of refuge, purposefully chosen and renovated, not some adventitious cavern,” Ph.D. Boroneant writes in his ‘Labirintul subterrane de la Limanu’ (The Underground Labyrinth of Limanu).
Tales Of Mysterious Sounds Coming From Underground Realms
Local stories mention strange and frightening wails like a prolonged high-pitched cry of grief, pain, or anger coming from the depths of the earth.
A scientific explanation for these strange sounds provided by speleologists is that the eerie wails are produced by the wind that sweeps through many underground galleries at Limanu. This noise affects the human psyche.
The cavern has a unique characteristic: although it is located on a complex of lakes and close to the Black Sea, it is so impenetrable that not even water can pass through.
The cave is also known as Caracicula (the old name of the Limanu settlement), Bats’, or Icons’ – due to some images carved in stone that once guarded the entrance.
Limanu Cave is one of the three habitats in Romania for horseshoe bats – Rhinolophus Mehelyi. The species decreased from over 5,000 specimens to about 300 individuals.
However, ecologists warned about the vulnerability of the cave, which is a magnet for treasure hunters. Through their actions, they tend to destroy the fauna.
Being located near the border with Bulgaria, Limanu cave had the reputation of a tunnel carrying fugitives across the border, particularly during the communist time.
There are many reasons to suspect the Dobrogea caves are hiding mysteries still waiting to be discovered.
Archaeologists Discover the 2,000-year-old ‘Sphinx Room’ Hidden in Emperor Nero’s Golden Palace
Archaeologists have discovered a hidden vault in the ruins of Roman Emperor Nero’s sprawling palace, hidden under the hills near Rome’s ancient Colosseum.
According to a statement (translated from Italian) from the Colosseum archaeological park, which includes the palace’s ruins, the chamber has sat hidden for nearly 2,000 years, likely dating to between A.D. 65 and A.D. 68.
The chamber nicknamed the Sphinx Room, is richly adorned with murals of real and mythical creatures including — you guessed it — a sphinx.
One of the walls of the newly discovered room is painted with a little sphinx.
Painted in rich red, green and yellow pigments that have survived the last two millennia incredibly well, the vaulted room is also decorated with images of a centaur, the goat-rumped god Pan, myriad plant and water ornaments, and a scene of a sword-wielding man being attacked by a panther.
According to the statement, the Sphinx Room was discovered accidentally, while researchers were setting up to restore a nearby chamber.
The room’s curved ceilings are 15 feet (4.5 meters) high, and much of the room is still filled in with dirt.
Nero began constructing his massive palace — known as the Domus Aurea, or “golden house” — in A.D. 64 after a devastating, six-day-long fire reduced two-thirds of Rome to ashes.
That researchers are still uncovering new rooms in the Domus Aurea after hundreds of years of excavation (the ruins were first rediscovered in the 15th century) is no surprise.
In its prime, the palace sprawled over four of Rome’s famous seven hills and is believed to have included at least 300 rooms.
One of the centaur’s frescoes in the newly-discovered chamber
Thanks, in part, to his narcissistic construction project, Nero’s reputation suffered in the eyes of history, and he is remembered today as a power-mad despot.
Following Nero’s suicide in A.D. 68, much of his palace was looted, filled with earth, and built over.
One of the palace’s central features, a large manmade lake, was eventually covered up by the Flavian Amphitheater — better known as the Roman Colosseum — in A.D. 70.
Thanks to the lake’s infrastructure, the bottom of the Colosseum was occasionally flooded to wage mock naval battles, bringing glory to the mad emperor’s successors.
Stunning Roman Villa Unearthed Under New Aldi Supermarket Site
Oxford archaeologists have unearthed what they believe to be a Roman villa which features a stunning mosaic under a site earmarked for a new Aldi supermarket.
A bathhouse, which featured beautiful red, white and blue tiles, was discovered on Warrington Road, Buckinghamshire.
The Olney site is currently being prepared for the construction of a brand-new Aldi supermarket.
The “intricate” mosaic was found at the site of a new Aldi supermarket in the town near Milton Keynes
Archaeologists said the mosaic featured ‘vibrant colours and intricate decorative patterns’ made up of red, white and blue tiles’.
Oxford Archaeology carried out the work for develop Angle Property and was commissioned due to the site’s proximity to another existing Roman site, according to the BBC.
The group deem the mosaic ‘archaeological remains of high significance’.
The roman villa with a “vibrant” mosaic was deemed of “high significance”
It is believed much of the ancient remains extend under Warrington Road, the digl team said.
The archaeologists said that following talks with Historic England and Milton Keynes Council, the mosaic has been preserved in situ.
Materials have been placed over the brickwork to protect the relics and allow construction to continue without causing damage.
Senior project manager at Oxford Archaeology, John Boothroyd, told the BBC: ‘Due to the site location we anticipated some notable Roman remains, but the discovery of this fantastic mosaic far exceeded those expectations.
The site was excavated due to its proximity to an existing Roman settlement monument
‘To be able to preserve remains of this quality and importance is a brilliant outcome, and one that could only have been achieved with the support of Angle Property.’ There are currently 992 ALDI locations in the UK.
New paintings believed to be from the prehistoric era have come to light during the ongoing studies on Mount Latmos (Beşparmak), home to significant rock paintings from ancient times.
Located in the western province of Aydın, the Latmos region is one of the places that attracts attention with its natural beauties, as it is also on the route of local and foreign tourists who want to explore nature and history.
While studies have been carried out to preserve the region and reveal its historical importance, the rock paintings of Latmos shed light on prehistoric times.
The number of the first known prehistoric rock paintings in Western Anatolia, discovered by German Archaeologist Anneliese Peschlow in 1994, has reached 200, with new paintings found since then.
The main subject of Latmos rock paintings, which have unique features in terms of subject and style, is related to the relationship between men and women, family, spring festivals and wedding ceremonies. In many paintings, decorations and figures resembling weaving patterns are also seen.
The newly discovered painting, which is believed to date back to prehistoric times, was found on a rock and in its cavities during the research conducted by the Ecosystem Conservation and Nature Lovers Association (EKODOSD).
Stating that they applied to the Aydın Cultural Heritage Preservation Board after the new discovery, EKODOSD President Bahattin Sürücü said, “There are human figures and ornamental motifs in the paintings drawn on a rock surface and its natural cavities.
It is seen that a figure drawn in a natural cavity has a different shape from the previous rock paintings. Peschlow, who has been working on prehistoric rock paintings in the Latmos region for years, has studied the newly found paintings. It was reported that the painting with interesting figures was not in Peschlow’s records.”
He said that further examinations will be made on the rock paintings by the Directorate General for Preservation of Natural Heritage.
After the first rock painting was discovered in Söğütözü in 1994, nearly 200 paintings have been so far found, Sürücü said.
“Considering that there are thousands of rock shelters and caves on a wide area among the rugged, stacked rocks of the Latmos Mountains, it is a fact that it is difficult and takes decades to study and detect them.
It is not easy to find rock paintings in the complex structure of the Latmos Mountains, which is almost an open-air museum with its castles, ancient stone roads, monasteries and defensive structures.”
“The newly found rock painting shows once again that many paintings drawn by prehistoric artists on thousands of rocks in the Latmos region are waiting to be discovered. Latmos Mountains are world heritage and should be protected as a whole,” he added.
Ancient Shipwreck is Discovered 1,200 Years After Sinking in the Holy Land
Sunken remains from a Royal Navy warship have been seen for the first time in over a century after divers located the wreck from World War One.
Back in April 1917, HMS Jason struck a German mine off the Scottish island of Coll and as a result, it sank and killed 25 men.
The exact location of the wreck was listed for decades on nautical charts, until 2011 when a seabed survey found no trace of her where she was supposed to be, meaning it was struck from the records.
Now, after five years of research, the remains have been found. Project leader Kevin Heath said: “It’s been known about in diving circles and shipwreck circles in Scotland for a long time.
“It was one of those mysteries – it was out there, people had looked and couldn’t find it, so I thought I’d take it upon myself to have a look.”
He used a side scan sonar to search the seabed when a possible wreck was revealed 600 meters from where Jason was supposed to be lying next to a large rock.
Later on her identity was confirmed on April 12 by a SULA Diving crew, sailing aboard MV Clasina.
Lieutenant Jen Smith of the Royal Navy, who was part of the dive team, said it was an “incredibly moving” discovery. “There was excitement at finding the wreck, but that’s quickly tempered by the fact that it’s a war grave – 25 men died here,” she said.
HMS Jason sunk in 1917 with 25 men killed
“It’s incredibly moving to think that no one has seen the ship since her stern disappeared 105 years ago. “Families knew the fate of the ship, but now they will know where she is and that can bring closure.”
Now the wreck lies at a depth of 93m and has several identifying features, including a pointed stern, a distinctive propeller, two 4.7in guns and crockery.
There is also evidence of the fateful moment that doomed the ship. “It’s been there since World War One so it’s very broken down,” said Mr. Heath.
“But it’s upright, with a slight list to port, the aft gun is there, then all of the machinery is exposed, then there’s the bridge, then there’s a forward gun.
“And just at the forward gun there is a break where the wreckage is missing and that’s where she hit the mine.”
Steps will now be taken to ensure the Jason is protected under law as an official war grave, allowing divers to visit but not touch the wreck.
Lt Smith said: “Documenting the ship, showing people what she’s like today is important to me. Naval war graves are often forgotten, as it’s hard for people to remember what you can’t see.
“Whilst land battlefields and cemeteries such as those in Normandy or the Somme can be visited by anyone, only a few of us can visit a shipwreck.
“So the more we can show and explain what happened to her and her sailors, the better. It’s important to make sure those who served are not forgotten.”
HMS Jason was built as a torpedo gunboat in 1892 but was later converted into a minesweeper by 1909, continuing her duties throughout the First World War.
Sadly she sank in little more than five minutes – enough time for nearly 80 survivors to escape, before being rescued by HMS Circe.
Steve Mortimer, who led the dive group, said: “It was a privilege to help identify the remains of this vessel. “25 families can now take comfort that the location of their relative’s ship is precisely known. We think that’s important.”
Mr. Heath and his fellow historian Wendy Sadler have documented the story of the Jason and its crew at lostinwatersdeep.co.uk
The Largest Hoard of Viking Treasure Ever Found in Britain has Now Been Revealed to the World
The largest hoard of Viking treasure ever found in Britain has now been revealed to the world. In total, there are about 100 intricate pieces, dating to about the 9th and 10th centuries. These rare artifacts were found in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, by Derek McLennan, a metal detectorist.
When McLennan, 47, found the hoard in September 2014, he called his wife with the news of the discovery and was so emotional that she thought he had been in a car accident.
He had been painstakingly searching an unidentified area of Church of Scotland land in Dumfries and Galloway for more than a year. McLennan is no stranger to finding treasure. He had been part of a group that discovered more than 300 medieval silver coins shortly before Christmas in 2013.
Derek McLennan, the discoverer of the hoard, holding ingots and arm-rings
Reverend Doctor David Bartholomew, a Church of Scotland minister of a rural Galloway charge, and Mike Smith, the pastor of an Elim Pentecostal Church in Galloway were with McLennan when he made the find.
“We were searching elsewhere when Derek [McLennan] initially thought he’d discovered a Viking gaming piece.” Rev. Dr. Bartholomew recalled that moment. “A short time later, he ran over to us waving a silver arm ring and shouting, ‘Viking!’.”
Now, two years after their discovery and 1,000 years after their burial, the artifacts have been revealed. A silver brooch from Ireland, silk from modern-day Turkey, gold and silver ingots, a bird-shaped pin, crystal, and silver arm rings are just a few of the items found. Interestingly, the oval shape of the arm rings suggests that they were actually worn before they were buried.
Top-level of the Dumfriesshire Hoard shows an early medieval cross with other silver and gold objects
Many of these precious pieces were stashed inside a silver Viking pot, dating from the Carolingian dynasty. At the time of its burial, it was likely already 100 years old and a precious heirloom. It is possibly the largest pot from the Carolingian dynasty found so far.
At the time of the discovery, McLennan noted, “We don’t know what exactly is in the pot, but I hope it could reveal who these artifacts belonged to, or at least where they came from.”
The treasure trove was buried two feet deep in the soil and was separated into two levels. Although all the artifacts found are rare and precious, it was the second, lower level that held the particularly fascinating items. It was the second level where the Carolingian dynasty pot was located.
The excavation was undertaken by Andrew Nicholson, the county archaeologist, and Richard Welander, from Historic Environment Scotland.
According to Welander, “Before removing the objects we took the rather unusual measure of having the pot CT-scanned, in order that we could get a rough idea of what was in there and best plan the delicate extraction process.
That exercise offered us a tantalizing glimpse but didn’t prepare me for what was to come. These stunning objects provide us with unparalleled insight into what was going on in the minds of the Vikings in Galloway all those years ago.”
He continued, “They tell us about the sensibilities of the time, reveal displays of regal rivalries and some of the objects even betray an underlying sense of humor, which the Vikings aren’t always renowned for.”
All the discoverers have been left reeling with their find. Rev. Dr. Bartholomew said, “It was tremendously exciting, especially when we noticed the silver cross lying face-downwards.
It was poking out from under the pile of silver ingots and decorated arm rings, with a finely wound silver chain still attached to it. Here, an archaeologist prepares the cross, which was found at the top level of the hoard, for removal. It was a heart-stopping moment when the local archaeologist turned it over to reveal rich decoration on the other side.”
Early medieval cross
Their excitement is well deserved. Scotland’s Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said of the hoard, “The Vikings were well known for having raided these shores in the past, but today we can appreciate what they have left behind, with this wonderful addition to Scotland’s cultural heritage.
It’s clear that these artifacts are of great value in themselves, but their greatest value will be in what they can contribute to our understanding of life in early medieval Scotland, and what they tell us about the interaction between the different peoples in these islands at that time.”
An early medieval cross, made of gold, was among the largest artifacts found. Due to its size, it was not located in the Carolingian pot. The cross is engraved with decorations that experts say are highly unusual.
McLennan believes that the engravings may represent the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Richard Welland believes that the carvings “resemble the carvings you can see on the remnants of St Cuthbert’s coffin in Durham Cathedral. For me, the cross opens up the possibility of an intriguing connection with Lindisfarne and Iona.”
Gold bird pin
The Treasure Trove Unit, which is responsible for assessing the value of the find on behalf of the Office of Queen’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer, is now in possession of the Viking hoard.
The experts of the unit validated the claim that the find has significant international importance. After being fully examined, the hoard will be offered for allocation to Scottish museums. McLennan is eligible for a reward equal to the market value of the find – a cost that will be met by the successful museum.
Concerning money, an agreement between the landowners — the Church of Scotland General Trustees — and the finder, McLennan has been reached. David Robertson, Secretary to the General Trustees, said, “Any money arising from this will first and foremost be used for the good of the local parish.
