A man who dug to find bait worms near his cottage, outside the Stockholmmade the discovery of his life: a silver treasure calculated to include around 20,000 coins From the beginning of the Middle Ages.

According to a statement by the administration of Stockholm province, the treasure, approximately weight 6 kgwas placed in bronze cauldron that has now been corroded, and accompanied by pearls, pendants and silver rings.

The archaeologist Sophia Anderson described the finding ‘one of the largest silver treasures of the early medieval period found in Sweden” Preliminary analysis shows that most coins date back to 12th century and bear the inscription Kanutusthat is, they were cut by his reign Erison (1173–1195).

Among the coins were rarely found “bishopric coins”, cut by powerful bishops, depicting a priest with a pastoral rod.

The Director of the Stockholm Medieval Museum, Lynn Voorbeckhe said that this is a unique find: “We have no other medieval treasures from Stockholm – and that seems to be huge. It’s exciting. “

Stockholm, noted, It still did not exist in the late 12th centuryas it was founded in 1252. At that time Sweden was experiencing turmoil because of its efforts to expand to Finland, which, according to researchers, may explain why someone hid the treasure to protect his property.

The research continues and the finding will be reported to the National Cultural Heritage Office, which will decide If the discovery will be compensated.

“The man who found him acted completely properly informing us,” Anderson said. “The law provides that anyone who finds an ancient treasure of silver or other valuable material must offer it to the state, which can redeem it by paying compensation.”