Archaeologists baffled over ‘bizarre’ Viking discovery

[Liffrea]

A TEAM of Irish archaeologists is puzzled by the "bizarre" discovery of a 1,150-year-old Viking necklace in a cave in the Burren.

Besides being the largest by far – up to 12 times longer than previous finds – the team is puzzled by how such a "high-status" Viking treasure came to lie in the Burren, an area never settled by the Norsemen.

The site where the necklace was found at Glencurran Cave was described by team leader Dr Marion Dowd of Sligo IT as a "treasure trove" for archaeologists.

Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland...#ixzz0mayCsUUw

[Cato]

A TEAM of Irish archaeologists is puzzled by the "bizarre" discovery of a 1,150-year-old Viking necklace in a cave in the Burren.

Besides being the largest by far – up to 12 times longer than previous finds – the team is puzzled by how such a "high-status" Viking treasure came to lie in the Burren, an area never settled by the Norsemen.

The site where the necklace was found at Glencurran Cave was described by team leader Dr Marion Dowd of Sligo IT as a "treasure trove" for archaeologists.

Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland...#ixzz0mayCsUUw

A possible explanation:

[Celtic] Christian hermits lived in caves and some of them may've been visited by visitors bearing gifts- many of these hermits had chieftans and even kings as their well-wishers.

Or, it was secreted there on purpose, since it's part of a trove and because someone was purposely hoarding their goods out of sight of, say, raiders. 1,150 years ago was during the heydey of Norse raids.

Why is such a find baffling?

[Bloodeagle]

Perhaps it was traded far and wide for it's vast beauty. Many valuable goods have been traded far from there origin.
I once read that Coca leaves from America were found in an Egyptian tomb.

[Pallantides]

Whats so bizzare about it, people have traded goods far and wide.
Archaeologists have found Buddah figurines and Chinese artifacts in Norway.

A 12th century wall painting from the Stave Church in Lom, Oppland in Norway.

The "stair" crown was typical for Chinese and Asian rulers.