Viking treasure unveiled

Viking treasure, described as the most important find of its kind in the UK since the 19th century, has been unveiled at the British Museum.It was discovered earlier this year by a father and son detecting team near Harrogate in northern England.The find includes coins, ornaments, ingots and precious metal objects all hidden in a gilt silver bowl and buried in a lead chest.The museum said: "The size and quality of the hoard is remarkable, making it the most important find of its type in Britain for over 150 years."The find is of global importance, as well as having huge significance for the history of North Yorkshire."Vikings, from modern day Norway and Denmark, began raiding the undefended coast of ancient Britain at the end of the eighth century AD.Less than 100 years later they had settled in large parts of the country - particularly the north where many modern day place names still bear witness to their enduring impact.The largest Viking hoard discovered in western Europe was found in 1840 at Cuerdale in the northern English county of Lancashire.The museum said the Harrogate hoard was probably buried by a wealthy Viking leader during the unrest that followed the brief conquest of the Viking kingdom of Northumbria in 927 AD by the Anglo-Saxon king Athelstan.The most impressive part of the treasure, which includes more than 600 coins and a rare gold arm ring, is the silver gilt bowl which was probably from a monastery in what is now France.The hoard contains coins relating to Islam, to the Vikings' pre-Christian religion and to Christianity.Most items were stored in the bowl which was then enclosed in the lead chest, accounting for the high state of preservation of the artefacts.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | July 19, 2007

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