Archaeology student discovers Viking Age silver arm rings near Elsted in Denmark

During the spring, 22-year-old archaeology student Gustav Bruunsgaard discovered an impressive find while using his metal detector near Elsted, north of Aarhus. Over a few days, he unearthed seven silver arm rings, which experts from Denmark and abroad assert date back to the Viking Age.

Moesgaard Museum described the treasure as “spectacular” in a recent press release. According to Dr. Kasper H. Andersen, a historian at the museum, this discovery highlights Aarhus’s significance as a central hub during the Viking Age, as the arm rings link to regions in Russia, Ukraine, and the British Isles.

In Viking society, silver was the measure of value, and these arm rings were designed according to a weight system that indicated the worth of each ring. They also reflected the owner’s financial status, the museum noted.