Czech woman finds ancient medieval treasure
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) said the treasure was found by a woman while walking in the town of Kutná Hora in the Central Bohemia region of the Czech Republic.
The treasure consisted of more than 2,150 silver coins minted between 1085 and 1107. Experts believe they were made 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 particular composition can also help determine the origin of the silver used.”
Michigan researchers discover eerie 1909 shipwreck at the bottom of Lake Superior
A woman in the Czech Republic recently alerted authorities to a site where ancient treasures had been found. (Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences (ARUP))
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 the members of the Přemyslid dynasty for the princely throne of Prague,” said the historian. According to ARUP, fights were common during that period and the deposit could have been cash “to pay wages or war booty.”
Ancient shipwrecks and artifacts dating back to 3000 BC have been discovered by underwater researchers
According to experts, the discovery of the treasure is one of the largest archaeological finds of the last ten years. (Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences (ARUP))
Velímský added that the value of the ancient coins was “unimaginable” for the time.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have any data on the purchasing power of coins at the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries,” he said. “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.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
The treasure consisted of more than 2,150 silver coins minted between 1085 and 1107. The coins are being analyzed and archived. (Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences (ARUP))
“More than 2,000 silver coins represented enormous value for their time,” says ARUP’s press release.
Historians are working on evaluating the coins, including x-raying them to determine the material. The artifacts will then be displayed in an exhibition that is expected to open in 2025.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
Archaeologists are working to analyze and archive all silver coins before displaying them. (Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences (ARUP))
Fox News Digital has contacted ARUP for comment.
For more lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.
