In a remarkable find, John Smart, a metal detectorist with over four decades of experience, has uncovered a Viking Age silver ingot on the Isle of Man. The 1,000-year-old artifact, measuring the size of a finger, was discovered as Smart explored the island situated in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and England. The discovery, announced by Manx National Heritage, highlights the enduring thrill of unearthing buried treasures on the island.
Smart, who has been pursuing metal detecting for more than 40 years, expressed his unwavering enthusiasm for the hobby. "It's the thought of finding something of interest ... you're detecting over a land with nothing, it's soundless, then suddenly there's a little beep," he shared with Manx Radio. The discovery of the silver ingot serves as a testament to the rich history that lies beneath the island's surface.
In accordance with the Isle of Man's Treasure Act 2017, Smart relinquished the artifact to Manx National Heritage, which subsequently handed it over to the island's Coroner of Inquests. The ingot, weighing approximately 0.4 ounce (11 grams), underwent a thorough analysis conducted by the University of Liverpool and Manx National Heritage. The examination involved X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy, which revealed the ingot's chemical composition and silver content.
The results of the analysis determined that the ingot was composed of 88% silver, meeting the criteria set by the Treasure Act 2017. According to the act, any artifact containing at least 10% precious metal and lacking a traceable owner is considered a treasure. This classification underscores the historical and cultural significance of the discovered ingot.
During the Viking Age, ingots served as a common currency, functioning as a substitute for silver coins in the exchange of goods and services. Allison Fox, curator of archaeology for Manx National Heritage, emphasized the importance of ingots in the Viking world, stating, "Ingots like this were used in the Viking world for trade. The ingots were weighed and tested to make sure of their silver content and they were used in part or in whole to buy whatever a Viking needed. It was a cross-border currency."
The Isle of Man has a rich history of Viking Age silver discoveries. In 2021, an amateur treasure hunter unearthed a "piggy bank" hoard containing numerous artifacts, including 87 coins and 13 pieces of cut-up silver arm rings, which served as "hack silver" or currency that could be broken into different sizes. These findings shed light on the island's role in the international Viking trade network and the functioning of the Viking economy.
Fox emphasized the significance of the ingot in understanding the Isle of Man's place in the Viking world, telling Manx Radio, "This ingot may only be a small artifact, but put into context, it helps illustrate how the Isle of Man was a part of the international Viking trade network 1,000 years ago including how the Viking economy operated and where on the island trade was taking place. I often compare it to a credit card, essentially. Because the value is in its silver content ... they could spend that anywhere in the Viking world."
The discovered ingot is now on display in the Viking and Medieval Gallery at the Manx Museum, allowing visitors to appreciate this remarkable piece of history and gain insights into the island's fascinating past. As more discoveries like this come to light, our understanding of the Viking Age and the Isle of Man's role in it continues to grow, painting a vivid picture of a time long gone but not forgotten.
