Ballaquayle Fields (Viking Hoard Site)

PROVEN VIKING HOARD SITE — the Ballaquayle Hoard was discovered in 1894 and is one of the most important Viking finds ever made on IoM. Contents: 1 GOLD arm ring, 13 silver armlets, 1 silver neck ring, 1 silver finger ring, 2 silver thistle-headed brooch pins, and 78 Anglo-Saxon silver coins. Now split between the Manx Museum and British Museum. The hoard dates to the late 10th century when IoM was part of the Norse Kingdom of the Isles. WHY DETECT HERE: Viking hoards were buried in times of danger with the intention of returning for them — the fact this one was never recovered means the owner died or fled. Where there's one hoard, the statistical likelihood of more in the surrounding area is VERY high. Viking communities buried multiple caches. The fields around the original find spot have NEVER been systematically detected. This is as close to a guaranteed productive detecting area as you'll find anywhere.