Posted on 09/30/2006 12:20:19 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
A rare piece of Viking gold that was discovered in the possessions of a deceased builder from York has finally gone on display at the Yorkshire Museum. The pure gold armband weighing three quarters of a Kilogram is only the third of its type ever to be found in Britain and Ireland and experts at the museum believe it would have been worn by one of the richest people living in Viking York, then called Jorvik... "This is only the second arm ring of this type to be found in England and for us to have it is exceptional," said Andrew Morrison, curator of archaeology at the museum. "It is a stunningly nice piece and not only is it gold and Viking but incredibly rare as well. We are delighted that we are able to keep it here in York where it was found."
(Excerpt) Read more at 24hourmuseum.org.uk ...
A Viking armband found amongst the possessions of a family's deceased father in York. © Yorkshire Museums
'Jolablot' Jorvik Viking Festival celebrates York's Viking heritage.
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And don't forget the pillaging and burning.
They make the best stoves.
There is a tattoo that most Viking had on their left hand:
PFTB
Roughly translated it means: Pillage First Then Burn.
I have no proof of this at all.
Still, it's good advice.
Makes sense, they needed pilots on their longships.
How much is that arm band worth today just for the gold contents?
Very good advice as well!
I don't know. It's difficult to see its size. Appears to be (but may not be) solid gold. Needless to say, it was worth a fortune when it was made and worn, and probably is still very valuable.
In early 1979, my family visited York (my mom's family all live there) and saw the Jarvik site when it was just a research site begging for money (they sold us Viking artifacts like blades for 10p/each to raise money for the actual research!) At the time, they were hoping to raise money to keep from having the Viking site covered up by a parking lot. I was there almost ten years later, and you went under the parking lot to get to the museum and see the re-created Viking site. Wish like heck that my parents had kept the chiselled stones from the six year old I was, as the adult me would really love to have a piece of my family's history!
LOVE reading anything about Jarkik,have visited a few times, and as it pushed me into a career as a history teacher!
THANKS FOR THE POST! (as always)
:') Thanks, it's a pleasure.
Well, if I did my ciphering correctly, a ballpark figure of $20,000 or so. I used a price of $600.00 per ounce.
Where did they find this among the guys stuff? I wonder if it was stuck back in a drawer some place and forgotten about.
Or, maybe he was a cross-dresser, and they found it in his jewelry box. :')
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