Other events in Baltic States

A metal detectorist found a set consisting of two spiral bracelets and two silver necklaces from the 11th or 12th century in the territory of the Kehtna rural municipality in Rapla County last fall, officials at the National Heritage Board told BNS.

A hobby archeologist notified the National Heritage Board early last fall of having found a spiral bracelet in the Kohila municipality with the help of a metal detector, Nele Kangert, senior inspector of archeology at the National Heritage Board, said. She said the detectorist possessed a search license issued by the National Heritage Board, informs LETA.

An inspector who was immediately dispatched to Kehtna established after cleansing the initial find that it was part of a set consisting of four items – two spiral bracelets and two silver necklaces underneath them. Besides scientists discovered pieces of birch bark around and under the silver items.

The bigger one of the necklaces weighs 193.05 grams and the smaller one 150.56 grams.

The finds were conserved by specialists at the department of archeological collections of Tallinn University.

Ulle Tamla, head of the department of archaeological collections of Tallinn University, said all the silver items were very well preserved and judging by their typology dated back to the second half of the 11th century or the beginning of the 12th century.

Altogether 93 finds and sets of finds, including about ten hoards or caches, were handed over to the National Heritage Board during 2015, Kangert said.

Most of the finds were discovered in Harju County and East-Viru County. The information supplied to the National Heritage Board has led archeologists to several archeological sites they haven't known about before. In most cases these are burial sites and settlement sites.

One of the most notable finds of 2015 was a hoard of coins detected in Uhtna village in West-Viru county in April, consisting of 51 Roman coins, four rings, segments of bracelets and a bronze circle. The Uhtna hoard represents the biggest find of Roman coins in Estonia ever and the oldest identifiable coin in it is a Sestertius minted during the rule of Faustina the Younger (161-176 AD).