They Found a 1,000-Year-Old Treasure Buried Underground

Archaeologists excavating the land of a former farm in Sweden struck gold—well, silver actually—when they found a buried pot filled with Viking-era silver.

In 2025, archaeologists from Arkeologerna, a division of the Swedish History Museum, announced the discovery of not only the silver treasure, but also 34 buildings, a burial ground, and 1,450 total artifacts from the Late Iron Age, about 500 to 1050 A.D., in Täby. But it’s the “unique buried silver treasure containing exclusive silver arm and neck rings, a silver amulet, pearls, and coin pendants” that has created the most buzz.

Experts believe the buried treasure was part of a ritual experience and that the burial may have coincided with the closing of the farm.

Located under a hollow block near an older home, the silver was found in a pot, with the stash containing silver necklaces and bracelets, a bag made of linen and silk, pearls, and a coin pendant. Hamilton said the fact that the fabric on the bag was preserved was unique and likely due to silver ions interacting with the textile.

The bag included a 12-coin pendant made from European and Islamic coins dating from 904-997 A.D. The coins were minted in Persia, Bavaria, Bohemia, Normandy, and England. There was also pollen on the bag like grains and medicinal plants that were from the Viking age.