Buzz
In January, amateur archaeologist René Schön and his young student Luca Malaschnitschenko were exploring a field on a Baltic Sea island when their metal detector pinged on a small silver object. Initially mistaken for a piece of aluminum waste, it turned out to be a coin from a 10th-century treasure hoard tied to a Danish king, reports AP.
Schön and Malaschnitschenko made the discovery on the eastern German island of Ruegen, but it wasn't until mid-April that state archaeologists fully excavated the hoard. The duo was invited back to participate in the final excavation, which covered an area of 4,300 square feet.
The treasure consists of pearls, jewelry, a Thor's hammer, and around 100 silver coins, the oldest dating back to 714 CE and the youngest to 983 CE. Experts speculate that this collection once belonged to Harald 'Harry' Bluetooth, the Viking-born Danish king who abandoned his Norse roots to introduce Christianity to Denmark.
Stefan Sauer, AFP/Getty ImagesFleeing Denmark in the late 980s due to a rebellion led by his own son, the king sought refuge in Pomerania, located on the southern shores of the Baltic Sea. This coincided with the burying of the silver hoard, and he passed away there in 987.
Harry Bluetooth earned his nickname from a bluish discoloration on his dead tooth. His legacy endures today in the Swedish Bluetooth technology, which carries his name. The symbol for the technology also incorporates the runic characters for his initials: HB.
According to the archaeologists involved in the excavation, the site represents the largest collection of Bluetooth coins ever found in the southern Baltic region.
