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Spiral
13th October 2014, 08:57
Metal detectorist finds Britain's biggest ever haul of Viking treasure - with hundreds of artefacts including an ancient silver cross

Location searched by enthusiast Derek McLennan for a year without success

Locale is not being identified by the Church of Scotland which owns land

Derek McLennan speechless when he made discovery in early September

Hoard includes possibly the largest silver pot from Carolingian dynasty discovered and could be up to 1,200-years-old

The largest haul of Viking treasure ever found in Britain has been unearthed by a metal detector enthusiast, it was revealed today.

The discovery was found on Church of Scotland land after the detectorist painstakingly searched the unidentified area in Dumfries and Galloway for more than a year.

The hoard, which consists of more than a hundred artefacts, many of which are historically unique, is now under the care of the Treasure Trove Unit and is regarded as being of significant international importance.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/10/12/1413140929460_wps_4_An_early_medieval_cross_A.jpg

An early medieval cross is among the largest hoard of Viking treasure found in the United Kingdom at an undisclosed location on land owned by the Church of Scotland. The cross is engraved with decorations that, experts say, are highly unusual, which finder Derek McLennan believes may represent the four Gospels


The hoard also includes a complete metal vessel containing more objects. It has not yet been emptied and the first step will be to examine its contents by X-ray.

Finder Derek McLennan, 47, was left speechless when he made the discovery in early September and was so emotional that when he called his wife she thought that he had been in a car accident.

Within the find is an early Christian solid silver cross, thought to date from the Ninth or Tenth centuries.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/10/12/1413141226448_wps_5_A_Large_silver_alloy_Caro.jpg

The treasure hoard includes possibly the largest silver pot from the Carolingian dynasty discovered and could be up to 1,200-years-old.

Read more http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2790197/metal-detectorist-finds-britain-s-biggest-haul-viking-treasure-hundreds-artefacts-including-ancient-silver-cross.html