60 years later, he learns that his childhood finds under a church are actually a real treasure
In 1964, a little Norwegian boy, Jan Gunnar Fuglesnes, and his brother were simply having fun exploring under the floorboards of a church. What began as an innocent childhood adventure led to a discovery whose true meaning only emerged nearly six decades later.
Childhood games, historical finds
It was a different time when Jan and his brother crawled through the rooms that Nazi soldiers dug to store ammunition during World War II and came across what they thought were cool trinkets to enrich their playtime. These included 14 silver coins, an amber bead and nine needles, all found in a setting that couldn’t be more similar to a typical playground.
They didn’t know that their “toys” were real artifacts. The coins, safely stored in a small yellow Kodak slide box, were forgotten as the brothers grew older, only to be rediscovered by Jan in November 2023, almost 60 years later. This prompted him to report the find to the local authorities in Møre og Romsdal county.
A treasure from the Middle Ages
The coins weren’t just old; they were ancient. Preliminary analysis by archaeologists revealed that these pieces date back to the Middle Ages. “We were just kids treasure hunting under the church and didn’t know how rare these coins were,” Jan said. This feeling reflected a childlike wonder that was similar to a poignant scene from the film Amélie, in which treasures come from the Childhood have emotional value, only in Jan’s case these objects also had significant archaeological value.
Carl-Fredrik Wahr-Hansen Vemmestad, the county archaeologist, noted that some coins may date from around 1280 during the reign of King Marcus VI. come from Norway. Others may be more recent, dating to the time of King Christian I, who reigned from 1450 to 1481. “Such finds are extremely rare, as literally only a handful of these coins have survived to this day in central Norway. “Vemmestad explained.
More than just coins
Even the seemingly banal objects found next to the coins turned out to be historically significant. The pins have been dated to the 13th century and were likely part of a garment that belonged to a deceased person, while the amber bead may have come from a prayer crown used by priests and deacons.
Following the guidelines of Norway’s archaeological preservation policy, which state that any artifacts found made before 1605 are considered state property unless they were privately owned before 1905, Jan handed over his childhood treasures to the local authorities. These artifacts will now be preserved and possibly even displayed to the public.
In a film-typical twist, what Jan and his brother saw as simple elements of childhood games turned out to be treasures of a nation, keeping a piece of history hidden beneath the floorboards of a quiet church. This story not only illuminates the unexpected corners where history can lurk, but also reminds us of the pure joy of discovery, a feeling that does not fade even after 60 years.
