An amateur treasure hunter on the Isle of Man has struck gold, or rather silver, with the discovery of a Viking Age silver ingot dating back 1,000 years. John Smart, a metal detectorist with over 40 years of experience, unearthed the ancient artifact while exploring the rugged landscape of the island in the Irish Sea.
In an interview with Manx Radio, Smart expressed the excitement he felt when he heard the telltale beep of his metal detector signaling a potentially significant find. The finger-sized ingot, weighing approximately 0.4 ounces, was later declared a “treasure” under the island’s legal regulations.
The silver analysis conducted by experts from the University of Liverpool and Manx National Heritage revealed that the ingot contained 88% silver, making it a valuable piece of currency in the Viking era. According to Allison Fox, curator of archaeology for Manx National Heritage, ingots like this were crucial for trade in the Viking world, functioning as a cross-border currency accepted for goods and services.
This discovery is not the first of its kind on the Isle of Man, with previous finds including a hoard of coins and cut-up silver arm rings. The ingot is now a part of the Viking and Medieval Gallery at the Manx Museum, showcasing the island’s role in the international Viking trade network a millennium ago. Fox likened the ingot to a credit card of its time, highlighting the significance of the find in understanding the Viking economy and trade practices of the era.
