Viking silver found by metal detector declared 'treasure'

The silver piece was discovered by a metal detectorist in a field in July 2022

A piece of silver from the Viking age has been officially declared as treasure.

The 1,000 year old block of silver was found by someone using a metal detector in the Isle of Man in 2022.

It's an important find because no other similar items had been found around that area before, so it could help experts better understand the Viking era.

The piece will be put on display at the Manx Museum in the Isle of Man.

What is classed as treasure?

Think you could be a treasure hunter? Read on to find out what classes as treasure!

For any treasure hunters out there, it's important to know what could be classed as treasure.

As this piece of Viking silver was found in the Isle of Man, it falls under what's known as Manx law.

Manx law says that finds of archaeological interest must be reported and items of precious metal that are more than 300 years old may then be declared treasure.

Under UK law, treasure is classed as objects of historical importance more than 200 years old, which contain metal.

Who decides whether objects are treasure?

When this item was found, it was reported to the board who oversees decisions about treasure.

Tests were carried out at the University of Liverpool, to check it was made up of precious metal, and it was found to be 88% silver.

An item will then be put in front of a coroner at an inquest where it is decided whether it's treasure or not.

If the item is declared as 'treasure' it often ends up at a museum, because 'treasure' belongs to the Crown, but the finder can be rewarded.

What more do we know about this piece of Viking silver?

John Smart found the item while metal detecting in 2022

Silver was the most common form of currency during the Viking period and back then this piece would have been worth the equivalent of about £200 to its owner.

That's despite it being a very small piece, just 6.7cm long and 0.75cm wide!

While silver coins were also used, blocks of precious metal could be used as the 'credit cards' of their day as they were able to be used in trading all over the Viking world.

Experts looking investigating this piece don't know whether it had been lost or hidden for safekeeping.