Viking Treasure in the Vale of York Hoard
This treasure hoard is thought to have been gathered by a powerful Viking, who may have gained it through trading in Europe or raiding. The period during which the Vikings came to Britain was full of violence and struggles for power. Throughout times of unrest people often buried their valuables, hoping to return for them later. The owner of this treasure hoard did not retrieve it, however, and it was buried in the ground for centuries until it was discovered in 2007 beneath a field in Yorkshire.
Image: © York Museums Trust and the British Museum