(Photo: Berit Roald/NTB) We know when, but not where 'A gold ring like this one belonged to somebody in society's elite, a Viking chief for instance,' says archaeologist Unn Pedersen. Similar items would also be made in gilded copper alloy, creating a third level in the hierarchy. ItвЂ™s clear who is the wealthiest of the two,вЂќ she says. So you have two people wearing the same ring, but one is silver, the other is gold. This also applies to the ring in question as we know of examples of the same ring in silver. вЂњOften the same items would be made, using different metals. вЂњWhat we see is that hierarchies are established using artefacts,вЂќ Pedersen says. But gold of course remained the most valuable. Elaborately decorated oval brooches were worn by women as clothes fasteners on their dresses, while men fastened their clothes with cloak pins.Дuring the Viking Age, the production of silver in the Arabic caliphate reached new heights and became one of the most important types of metal in Scandinavia. Rings and bracelets would have been worn by both men and women. It was used to tell the world how wealthy you were. Jewellery was worn by both men and women during the Viking Age.

(Photo: Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo) Social status measured in gold

Some such hidden treasures have since been found and are exhibited in museums вЂ“ but there may still be more such treasures out there. Archaeologists also believe treasures were buried as a sort of offering to the gods. To protect their treasures from thieves, many hid them in clever spots out in nature or in their houses. One of the gold necklaces weighs nearly a kilo. So this would have been reserved for the richest and most powerful people in society,вЂќ she says.ДЄ Viking Age treasure discovered in the former county Buskerud in 1834, known as the Hoen Hoard. вЂњGold was rare during the Viking Age, there wasnвЂ™t a big supply of it anymore. It looks as though it has been used a lot.ДЄnd it was most likely worn by a powerful Viking chief. There are some in silver, and some in gold that have this exact same shape,вЂќ she says.Д«ased on the photo, Pedersen also thinks the ring looks a little worn. вЂњWe have some very close parallels to it. Pedersen confirms that the ring is a typical Viking Age ring. вЂњIt is extremely rare to find such a gold ring from the Scandinavian Viking Age,вЂќ she says. вЂњThis is a really exciting find,вЂќ Pedersen says to sciencenorway.no on the phone from her summer cabin. She studies artefacts from the Viking Age, and one of her fields of research is so-called non-ferrous metalworking вЂ“ meaning for instance copper, silver, and gold. Unn Pedersen is an associate professor of archaeology at the University of Oslo. (Photo: Norwegian metal detector association) The rich and powerful The Viking Age ring from Mandal was handed over to the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo. вЂњWhat this means is that we have no idea where the ring is from,вЂќ WГёlstad says. The auction store had bought the remains of an estate and was selling off stuff in piles packed in banana boxes. But never a ring.ДЄnd WГёlstad has never heard of such items surfacing in internet auctions.

WГёlstad's office has received jewellery from the Iron Age and the Viking Age before, such as brooches and coat pins. The people who come are usually metal detector enthusiasts, or people who for some reason or another have to dig in the earth, and stumble upon historical items. Her office is the place to go with findings that might be of archaeological interest. вЂњWeвЂ™re so impressed with her вЂ“ the fact that she reacted exactly as you should when you find something you might believe is of historic value,вЂќ WГёlstad says. She was at the office that day in February when Heskestad came to deliver the ring. вЂњThis is unique,вЂќ says archaeologist Sigrun WГёlstad, senior advisor in the Vestland county section for cultural heritage. (Photo: Vestland County) Stuffed in a banana box

Mari Ingelin Heskestad knew exactly what to do when she realized she had found a special ring - she immediately contacted the archaeological team in the Vestland county section for cultural heritage.

Mens valknut ring