EEN TWEEDE SCANDINAVISCHE ZILVERSCHAT VAN WESTERKLIEF, GEM. WIERINGEN (N.H.)

Samenvatting

The silver hoard of Westerklief, gerneente Wierin­gen, was the first Viking hoard found outside Scandinavian territories. Because the Norsernen would not have brought their silver from the north with them to leave it here unless they had possi­bilities to stay, this hoard suggested the presence af a Scandinavian settlement. By its date, c. 850, it was associated with the historically documented period of Danish rule from 850-885, in which the Danish chieftains Roric and Godfred held large parts af the western Netherlands and Dorestad in their grasp and had their position legalized by the Carolingian kings. The Westerklief hoard was considered to be the sole archaeological indica­tion af a possible Danish settlement until a second silver hoard was found at Westerklief in Novem­ber 1999. It consists af 18 fragments af non-num­ismatic hacksilver, one complete ingot, 61 Arabic coins inclusing 25 complete ones, 20 Carolingian coins and sherds af a small Badorfpot. Although found in the same field as the first hoard and equally Scandinavian in character, the Westerklief 2 hoard could not be more different. Whereas the first find comprises only complete objects (mainly ornaments and heavy ingots), the second find con­sists of heavily fragmented hacksilver, for the most part ingots and for the first time Arabic coins. Moreover the container, a small Badorf pot, and the collection af Carolingian coins are different, and finally the date is 30 years later. Dated to the early 880s, the Westerklief 2 hoard coincides with the end of Danish rule in western Frisia. This new find rules out the first one being only a chance find and supports the hypothesis that during the 850-885 period Danes settled in Wieringen, which is further endorsed by several finds of several Arabic coins all over Wieringen.