Rare Christian Cross Among Spectacular 1,000-Year-Old Viking Treasures Found

Archaeologists recently unearthed a hoard of early medieval treasures on the banks of an inlet in northern Germany, all thanks to a metal detectorist.

The State Archaeology Department of Schleswig-Holstein (ALSH) announced the discovery in a press release in late May. 

The hoard, dating back roughly 1,000 years, was found on the shores of the Schlei, an inlet in the Baltic Sea. Officials said that the area is near "the once-significant Viking-era trading post of Haithabu."

The hoard was originally flagged by a metal detectorist named Arjen Spiesswinkel, who reported his finds to the ALSH.

"A targeted follow-up search with additional detectorists helped narrow down the location of the find," the ALSH said in a statement.