Rare 800-year-old silver artifacts found at church in Sweden — and spark a mystery

Miami Herald via Yahoo! ^ | April 11, 2024 | Aspen Pflughoeft

[SunkenCiv]

From a distance, the slate gray roof and central white tower of the Brahekyrkan church appear charming. The idyllic building is situated on a small island in southern Sweden and surrounded by a cemetery dotted with flowers.

So archaeologists weren't surprised when a construction project at the church uncovered several skeletons — but the grave held an 800-year-old mystery, too.

Archaeologists began excavations at the Brahekyrkan church in Visingsö to prepare for the installation of a geothermal heating system, the Jönköping County Museum said in a March 27 news release.

On the first day of the excavation, the team found two skeletons, Anna ödéen, an archaeologist with the museum, said in the release. One belonged to a man between 20 and 25 years old, but the other was not identified.

As they cleaned the grave, three silver coins emerged, ödéen said. Then, more coins surfaced near the skeleton's left foot.

In total, archaeologists found 170 silver coins dating between 1150 to 1180, the museum said. Photos show the handful of slightly tarnished coins.

Some of the 800-year-old artifacts had completely unknown designs, the museum said. Archaeologists described it as sensational and unique.

[bgill]

They’re mine. I buried them there for safe keeping.

[Red Badger]

Wishing well.........

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

It sounds like the man had sliver stashed in the lining of his boot or in his clothing and those who killed or buried him did not search him well before burying him.

You might not do this if you were dealing with a corpse that had been exposed for a time and was rotting, or, of someone who had died of the plague or other disease.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

The island home of Swedish kings! of the period!