The Viking piggy bank
Hospital’s CT scanner shows riches inside mystery pot
FOR 1,200 years it has lain undisturbed in the ground, its contents last seen and held by a now long-dead Viking.
But experts feared that opening the sealed bronze pot, part of a precious ancient hoard found recently in Southern Scotland, would threaten both it and the items inside.
Now, however, the mystery has been partly solved after a hospital CT scan revealed the vessel was a 9th century ‘piggy bank’ containing five silver brooches, smaller gold ingots and ivory beads coated in gold.
The images also showed an intriguing
‘He has obviously died of disease or in battle’
rectangular object that experts have not yet been able to identify.
Borders General Hospital in Melrose, Roxburghshire, agreed to help Historic Scotland by granting access to the £2million medical scanner.
Radiologist Dr John Reid, a keen amateur archaeologist, was happy to make the scanner available for the job.
He said: ‘This is part of one of the most notable Viking finds in the UK, not just Scotland.
‘Vikings would put hoards into the ground for safe keeping but it represents a double tragedy.
‘An early Christian cross was found at the site. Vikings were Pagan so this would have most likely been taken from a monk or a priest. They targeted monastic sites.
‘It’s tragic in that sense but also a tragedy for the Viking (who owned the items) because he has obviously died of disease or in battle before he’s been able to reclaim or use the hoard.’
Dr Reid added: ‘This is a fascinating find – it’s going to represent a truly amazing discovery.’
The treasure was found by metal detectorist Derek McLennan on Church of Scotland land in September this year at an undisclosed site in Dumfries and Galloway. The cache of around 100 items was described as ‘ one of the most significant Viking hoards ever discovered in Scotland’ when it was announced by Scotland’s Treasure Trove Unit (STTU).
An agreement between the Church of Scotland General Trus- tees and Mr McLennan has been reached over a finder’s fee.
Stuart Campbell from STTU said: ‘At the moment the pot has been scanned and there will be a meeting to discuss its excavation.’
He said experts would come together to discuss how the vessel could be safely opened. ‘It will be done under controlled conservation, how we do this is something that will be discussed at the meeting,’ Mr Campbell added.
‘It will be in the hands of very skilled conservationists.’
Richard Welander, head of collec- tions at Historic Scotland, said: ‘As with human patients, we need to investigate in a non-invasive way before moving onto delicate surgery. In this case, that will be the careful removal of the contents and the all-important conservation of these items.’