Timboholm Great Golden Treasure Dated To Iron Age’s Great Migration Period

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - In 1904, the greatest prehistoric gold treasure preserved in Scandinavia was found in Timboholm, just outside Skövde, Sweden.

Timboholm's golden treasure. Photo: Christer Åhlin/SHM

Its total weight is 7.084 kg. It comprises 2 bars and  26 heavy gold spirals clustered together in two irregular chains with ten respectively 16 rings.

It dates from the era of the Great Migration that took place during 375-550 AD. During this important historical era of the Iron Age, many different tribes migrated across the European continent. Other regions have been affected by this phenomenon at different times.

The Germanic people's walk is significant for Western Europe and falls between 375 and 568 AD. The Huns were nomadic people living in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia between the 1st and 7th centuries AD.

It dates from the era of the Great Migration that took place during the period 375-550 AD. During this important historical era of the Iron Age, many different tribes migrated across the European continent. Photo: Christer Åhlin/SHM

These people may have also stimulated the Great Migration by contributing to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.

Other wandering groups include Slavic, Bulgarian and Hungarian tribes that had a crucial impact on the further historical development of mainly Eastern Europe.

Not much is known about the impressive golden treasure from Timboholm. All items were weighed individually, and their purity was carefully analyzed. It has been established that all parts of the find have gold contents of 23 and 24 carats.

It dates from the era of the Great Migration that took place during the period 375-550 AD. During this important historical era of the Iron Age, many different tribes migrated across the European continent. Photo: Christer Åhlin/SHM

Every object has a mass related to a pound unit that agrees well with the "silver pound," corresponding to 335.7 grams.  All things in the collection might have a monetary nature since the different weights can be recognized from the shapes of the objects.

However, it was also suggested that Roman gold coins were often melted down and recycled. The Timboholm rings and ingots could also be the final product of such ancient recycling.

Were they kept in a leather pouch that decayed in the ground long ago?

Written by – A. Sutherland  - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer

Updated on March 27, 2023

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