Walker stumbles upon a rare treasure buried in the Middle Ages in a discovery that only occurs once every ten years
A European woman recently discovered a buried treasure from the Middle Ages, something archaeologists are calling a once-in-a-decade discovery.
In a press release translated into English, the Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences (ARUP) stated that the treasure was found by a woman walking in Kutná Hora, a town in the Central Bohemia region of the Czech Republic.
The treasure consisted of over 2,150 silver coins minted between 1085 and 1107. Experts believe they were manufactured in Prague and imported to Bohemia.
“The [discovery was] made from a coin alloy that contains silver as well as an admixture of copper, lead and trace metals,” ARUP explained in the May 16 press release. “Determining this special composition can also help determine the origin of the silver used.”
Archaeologist Filip Velímský said the treasure was hidden during a time of political instability.
The treasure was kept in a ceramic container that was destroyed over the years, but archaeologists discovered the bottom of the container.
“At that time, there were disputes in the country between members of the Přemyslid dynasty over the princely throne of Prague,” the historian explained. ARUP says that fighting was common during this period and believes that the deposit could have been cash “for the payment of wages or war booty.”
Velímský added that the value of the ancient coins was “unimaginable” for that time.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have data on the purchasing power of contemporary coins for the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries,” he explained. “But it was a huge, unimaginable – and at the same time unavailable – amount for a normal person. It’s comparable to winning a million in the jackpot.”
Czech officials call the discovery “one of the biggest finds of the last decade.”
“More than 2,000 silver coins represented enormous value in their time,” says ARUP’s press release.
Historians are currently working on evaluating the coins. This includes x-raying them and determining the material they are made of.
The artifacts will then be presented in an exhibition scheduled to open in 2025.
