1,500-year-old gold ornament is discovered in southern Norway
Updated
Updated · Archaeology Magazine · May 8
1,500-year-old gold ornament is discovered in southern Norway
4 articles · Updated · Archaeology Magazine · May 8
A hiker found the rare scabbard fitting near Austrått, at Norway's southwestern tip; it dates to the first half of the sixth century AD.
Retired University of Stavanger Museum archaeologist Siv Kristoffersen said its twisted gold-thread patterns and opposed animal heads mark it as among the period's finest goldsmith work.
The heavily worn piece is thought to have decorated a ceremonial scabbard belonging to the region's ruler, indicating elite status and high craftsmanship in early medieval Norway.
How did the artistry of distant empires reach a goldsmith in remote sixth-century Norway?
Was this priceless gold artifact a desperate sacrifice made during a sixth-century global climate crisis?