Medieval silver treasure: trade between Saxony-Anhalt and Friesland discovered!

Medieval silver treasure: trade between Saxony-Anhalt and Friesland discovered!

A sensational find from the heart of Saxony-Anhalt whirls the history books! An old silver treasure that was hidden around 1,200 years ago in Altenzun in the Stendal district, reveals that there were lively trade relationships with Friesland in the early Middle Ages. This discovery is based on the scientific evaluation of seven unique "porcupine coins", which were discovered by volunteers between 2005 and 2014 on an area west of the Elbe.

The archaeologist and numismatist Anika Aususchensky from the State Office for Monument Conservation and Archeology Saxony-Anhalt explains that these coins, known as "porcupine scetattas", which are the most south-east of its kind. "These coins were often found in Northern Germany and along the Rhine as well as in England, Belgium, France and occasionally in Denmark," said Auschchensky. With a silver content of an average of 80 percent, it is likely that these coins were part of a treasure and were not simply lost.

evidence of trade routes of the Merovinger

The porcupus coins are more than just old relics; They are the key to a fascinating chapter in commercial history. On the Elbe in the Altmark, the long -distance trade routes of the Merovingian Empire, which was replaced by the Carolingians from 751, once crossed. Archaeologist Georg Schafferer emphasizes: "It was assumed that trade was also driven here, with the coins there is evidence of it." During this time, the barter trade was widespread, while money was mainly used for larger goods.

the Altmark, once conquered under Charlemagne, became part of the Franconian Empire, and it is possible that the coins came to the region through the Franks. This discovery could not only rewrite the region's trade history, but also revolutionize our understanding of the connections between different cultures in the early Middle Ages!