Erlend Bore, a 51-year-old Norwegian man, found the treasure earlier this summer, which included nine necklaces bearing “rare gold symbols”, three gold rings and 10 gold pearls. He discovered Rennesay, a private island off the country’s southwestern coast. Experts called the find Norway’s largest gold treasure of this century.
What is known
Bore didn’t expect to find much on the expedition, which was sanctioned by a private landowner. But then his newly purchased metal detector started beeping as he moved it over one of the patches of dirt. A quick dig turned up an old chocolate wrapper. But then he noticed a lump coming out of the ground.
Suddenly I was sitting with a golden treasure in my hand. There were many small golden pearls. It was important to win everything and lose nothing.
– said Bore in an interview with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK).

The golden treasure is well preserved and has few small details. There is a horse embroidery in the middle of the gold pendants / Photo: RIK WAAGE / NRK
He said the find was “absolutely incredible” and immediately contacted authorities, who confirmed the gold treasure was approximately 3.5 ounces (100 grams). “This is the gold find of the century in Norway. It is extremely unusual to find so much gold at once.”– comments Ole Madsen, director of the Archaeological Museum of the University of Stavanger.

The gold find consisted of nine coin-shaped gold necklaces, ten gold beads and three gold rings / Photo: Annette Græsli Øvrelid, Arkeologisk museum, UiS

Golden bead / Photo: Annette Græsli Øvrelid, Arkeologisk museum, UiS
Museum experts determined that the plain gold necklaces date to around 500 AD, during the Migration Period (also known as the Berber Invasions), when Western Europe was not ruled by Roman emperors. Although the necklaces looked like gold coins, they were actually called “brackets” and were used as jewelry.

Fully assembled necklace / Photo: Annette Græsli Øvrelid, Arkeologisk museum, UiS
Norwegian cultural heritage law stipulates that anyone who finds treasure will receive a reward, which will be shared equally between the landowner and the finder.

Gold rings / Photo: Annette Græsli Øvrelid, Arkeologisk museum, UiS