SILVER finds from the Viking world used to be great rarity in Morecambe Bay and Cumbria but metal detectorists have had a rich vein of luck in uncovering finds in the past few years.
The Furness Hoard can be seen at Barrow’s Dock Museum and the Silverdale Hoard has been on display at Lancaster’s City Museum.
Now a third treasure find – the Beckermet Hoard – is to go on show at the Beacon Museum in Whitehaven. In 2014 enthusiasts Justin Bell and Daniel Boakes unearthed a Viking hoard of 20 silver artefacts from the 10 th century in Beckermet, near Egremont in West Cumbria.
Mr Bell describes the hoard, discovered in a field, as “The find of a lifetime”.
He said: “We’ve done a lot of land around that area and not found anything significant, but the amount of groats and old four pence’s we’ve come across is fascinating.”
They found 16 ingots – traded in the Viking world as bullion - and also four rings. The hoard had a combined weight of 880 grams
All were verified as being of Norse origin, and evidence suggests that these pieces could have been brought to Cumbria from as far away as Russia.
The hoard was given “treasure” status and was returned to West Cumbria where the Beacon Museum was eager to bring the collection back to Copeland.
The two finders will officially launch the display of the Viking silver at the Beacon Museum on February 25.
They will also host a metal detecting class with the museum’s Quantum Leap club at the discovery site.
Elizabeth Kwasnik, museum director, said: “We are delighted to have the Norse hoard back as a key part of Copeland’s historic collection here in the Beacon Museum.
“The artefacts invoke many stories of a time in Cumbria’s ancient past that is often overlooked, and we are giving our community a focal point to understand a bit more about those Scandinavian people who settled in this area and became part of our ancestry.”A series of events will accompany the Viking hoard exhibition during February half term week, from February 20 to 24, including a Viking longhouse workshop and a Norse Saga day.
Details of the events can be found on the museum website at thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk
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