36 votes

Swedish fisherman digging for worms stumbles upon cache of silver coins, beads, rings and pendants dating to the 12th century

7 comments

  1. [7]
    balooga
    Link
    They’d better compensate him! Maybe it’s the American in me showing but if I found a cache like that I don’t think turning it over to the state would ever enter my head as a possibility. All the...

    Sweden’s National Heritage Board will now determine whether the finder will be compensated for turning over his discovery to the state.

    They’d better compensate him! Maybe it’s the American in me showing but if I found a cache like that I don’t think turning it over to the state would ever enter my head as a possibility. All the more so if I was a laborer like a fisherman.

    Of course, as an American my odds of stumbling upon 12th century silver coins in my backyard are effectively zero, so I guess it’s a moot point.

    14 votes
    1. [3]
      Bwerf
      Link Parent
      "digging for worms", this is probably a hobbyist, not a professional. I did some digging (teehee). She (the fisherman) is very much is not a professional fisherman, she was digging for worms at...

      "digging for worms", this is probably a hobbyist, not a professional.

      I did some digging (teehee). She (the fisherman) is very much is not a professional fisherman, she was digging for worms at her summer cottage and is according to the original interview in Dagens Nyheter not looking for a reward.

      – Visst, det vore förstås roligt om man fick en liten slant. Men jag är inte alls ute efter pengar utan jag är bara glad om det kommer till ett museum där folk som uppskattar det kan få se det. Då kommer vi absolut också gå dit och besöka utställningen.

      When passed through google translate:

      – Sure, it would be nice if you got a little money. But I'm not after money at all, I'm just happy if it goes to a museum where people who appreciate it can see it. Then we will definitely go there and visit the exhibition.

      20 votes
      1. [2]
        balooga
        Link Parent
        Awesome investigation, thanks for that!

        Awesome investigation, thanks for that!

        4 votes
        1. Bwerf
          Link Parent
          Thank you! This was actually not that hard since I already have a subscription to Dagens Nyheter, and also speak Swedish natively.

          Thank you! This was actually not that hard since I already have a subscription to Dagens Nyheter, and also speak Swedish natively.

          3 votes
    2. tanglisha
      Link Parent
      I wonder if it might be related to their social support system. I’d like to pretend I’d be the person to turn something like that over, but I’ve been out of work for a year and a half and am...

      I wonder if it might be related to their social support system. I’d like to pretend I’d be the person to turn something like that over, but I’ve been out of work for a year and a half and am worried about ending up unhoused. A small fraction of that worth could wipe out that worry and keep me from being financially destroyed by illness. As far as I know, none of that would be a concern if I were Swedish.

      4 votes
    3. Captain_Wacky
      Link Parent
      I can see how that could be a slippery slope, though. Offer rewards for important archaeological finds, and then you got antiquity hunters, with no real desire to preserve archaeological context.

      I can see how that could be a slippery slope, though.

      Offer rewards for important archaeological finds, and then you got antiquity hunters, with no real desire to preserve archaeological context.

      2 votes