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.

Its total weight is 7.084 kg. It is composed of 2 bars and  26 heavy gold spirals clustered together in two irregular  chains with 10 respectively 16 rings.

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

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. Different regions have been affected by this phenomenon at different times.

The Germanic peoples walk had the greatest significance for Western Europe and falls between the years 375 and 568 AD. The Huns were a nomadic people, who lived in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia between the 1st century AD and the 7th century 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 of people include Slavic, Bulgarian and Hungarian tribes that had a crucial impact on further historical development of particularly Eastern Europe.

See also:

Anundshög Burial Mound: One Of Sweden’s Richest And Largest Sacred Ancient Sites

Sweden’s Tanum And Skredsvik Petroglyphs: Thousands Of Spectacular And Intriguing Rock Art

Enigmatic Ale’s Stones – Sweden’s Megalithic Ship-Like Formation

Not much is known about the great 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 that is related to a pound unit that agrees well with the "silver pound" corresponding to 335.7 grams.  All objects of 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 gold Roman 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

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