John Smart, an experienced metal detectorist with over 40 years of experience, discovered a 1,000-year-old Viking Age silver ingot on the Isle of Man in July 2022.
The ingot measures 2.6 inches (6.7 cm) long and 0.3 inches (0.75 cm) wide and was buried 7 inches (18 cm) below the surface.
After analysis, the silver ingot, which was 88% pure, was declared a "treasure" and dates back to between 900 and 1045 AD.
The ingot was likely used for trade and as a form of currency during the Viking period, as Vikings settled on the Isle of Man in the ninth century.
Vikings used silver ingots, coins, lead ingots and copper ingots for payments as part of their trade network.
The discovered ingot is now displayed in the Viking and Medieval Gallery at the Manx Museum, illustrating the island's role in the Viking trade.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: LiveScience, Archaeology.org, Miami Herald