A Dutch historian has made a stunning discovery using a metal detector, unearthing a rare medieval gold treasure. Among the treasures found were four exquisite gold earrings, two strips of gold leaf, and 39 silver coins that are over a thousand years old. The Royal Museum of Antiquities of the Netherlands has officially announced this remarkable discovery, shedding new light on the rich history of the region.
The treasure was discovered by 27-year-old historian Lorenzo Ruijter in Hoogwoud, a small town in the province of North Holland. “It was very important that I discovered something so valuable. I never expected to find something like this,” Ruijter said in an interview with Reuters, adding that it was difficult to keep his discovery under wraps for almost two years until the museum fully evaluated it.
Experts at the Royal Museum of Antiquities took time to clean, examine, and date the objects, and only now have they discovered that the youngest coin in the collection dates from around 1250 AD, leading them to conclude that the treasure was buried at that time. By that time, the jewelry was already two centuries old, the museum said in a statement, adding that it must have been an “expensive and treasured acquisition”.
While it remains a mystery exactly why the treasure was buried, the museum pointed out that at the time, in the mid-13th century, Hoogwoud was at the center of a war between the Dutch regions of West Frisia and the Netherlands. Ruijter believes it is possible that an influential figure of the time buried the precious items to protect them and in the hope of recovering them when he thought they were safe.
Due to its archaeological value, the treasure has been given to the museum where it will be exhibited, but it remains the official property of Lorenzo Ruijter, who discovered it.
