Swedish archaeologists discover Viking Age silver hoard near Stockholm

Archaeologists from Arkeologerna, a division of the Swedish History Museums, have uncovered an extraordinary Viking Age site in Täby, just north of Stockholm. 

Excavations carried out between 2020 and 2021 revealed a large farmstead, burial site, and an exceptional silver treasure buried more than a millennium ago. The find sheds new light on life during the late Iron Age and early Middle Ages, dating from approximately 500 to 1050 CE, Caliber.Az reports per Archaeology News.

The site, perched above the woods and fields of Viggbyholm, contains remains of 34 buildings and five graves—three coffined burials and two cremations—alongside around 1,450 artifacts. These include everyday objects, ritual deposits, and a particularly noteworthy Viking silver hoard, acclaimed for its rarity and excellent preservation.

Among the most remarkable discoveries was a ceramic container sealed with a stone, found near the remains of an older structure. Inside were silver neck and arm rings, a silver amulet, beads, and 12 coin pendants made from European and Islamic coins dated between 904 and 997 CE. The coins originated from regions such as Persia, Bavaria, Bohemia, Normandy, and England. This hoard was wrapped in a luxurious linen pouch adorned with silk and contained pollen traces from grains and medicinal plants, likely preserved by the antimicrobial properties of the silver.

John Hamilton, head of the excavation team, called the find extraordinary, emphasizing its connection to both the farmstead and burial site. He suggested the treasure was likely buried in a ceremonial ritual honoring a high-status woman, possibly marking the end of the farmstead’s occupation.

Fifteen buildings within the settlement showed evidence of ritual use, with archaeologists finding deposits of ritually buried objects, indicating a sophisticated cultural and spiritual community. Pottery styles hint at connections or migration across the Baltic Sea, with some vessels resembling those from outside Sweden, suggesting foreign trade or settlement.

DNA analysis of four male skeletal remains confirmed family ties among some individuals and revealed at least one man from outside the local population.

Comprehensive reports based on years of research are now publicly available, offering an in-depth look into Viking-age daily life, social structure, ceremonial traditions, and trade networks from over a thousand years ago.

By Naila Huseynova