A remarkable collection of Viking-era artifacts discovered on the Isle of Man has been officially declared a treasure by Isle of Man investigator Mrs. Jane Hughes.
This find, considered of international significance, includes a gold bracelet, a substantial silver brooch, at least one silver armband, and various related items, all buried around the year AD 950. The discovery took place in late 2020 when metal detectorist Cat Giles was searching for metals on private property.
The gold hand ring is crafted from three intricately woven gold rods, with both ends merging into a flat, diamond-shaped band fully adorned with a stamped pattern featuring groups of three dots.
Previously, Viking-era gold rings from the island, like the one found in the Ballacquale hoard at Douglas in the 1890s, featured simpler designs. However, the presence of three Viking-era gold finger rings and a solid gold bar found on the Isle of Man suggests the possibility of gold mining on the island during the Viking Age. This, in turn, implies the presence of particularly affluent individuals at the time. The discovery of this gold hand ring further supports these theories.
The silver brooch is known as a "ball-type thistle brooch" and is quite large, with a hoop measuring about 20 cm in diameter and a pin approximately 50 cm long. Despite some bending, breaking, and minor missing details, the brooch is remarkably well-preserved. It was worn on the shoulder to secure heavy clothing, such as a cloak, with the pin's point facing upward. This brooch represents one of the largest examples of its type ever found. The intricately designed pin and terminals, like the armband ring, would have served as a clear visual indicator of the wearer's wealth. It's likely that this brooch was not meant for everyday use. The script used in its design is believed to have originated from the Irish Sea area, possibly indicating that the brooch was crafted on the Isle of Man.
The hoard also contained the remains of at least one decorated silver armband, showing signs of ancient carving.
While both whole and cut gold and silver pieces from the Viking Age have been found on the island before, many were deliberately buried as "hoards" during times of threat, with the intention of the original owner recovering the artifacts at a later date. Nevertheless, this unique ring and brooch are the first of their kind to be found on the Isle of Man. Their discovery significantly contributes to our understanding of the wealth circulating on the island and throughout the broader Irish Sea region over a millennium ago.
