Africa-Press – Lesotho. A spate of high-profile finds including Viking swords that made international headlines have spurred vocal calls for greater recognition of voluntary efforts by amateurs from the professional community.
Amateur metal detectorists from Norway have stumbled upon several ancient objects in Agder County in the southern part of the country, including a 5,000-year-old sandstone battle axe and a Bronze Age spearhead.
The finds, made near the town of Kristiansand, were handed over to professional archeologists after Easter holidays. Archaeologist Morten Kutchera of Agder Municipality could admittedly hardly believe his eyes.
The spearhead was also met with cheers from professionals. The hobby archeologist community is growing in Norway, eroding the historic rift that has divided history-infatuated amateurs and the professional community.
Theodor Lothe Bruun emphasized “a lot of skepticism and prejudice was working both ways” alongside “bad experiences and poor communication,” yet he hailed the collaboration as “extremely important and valuable,” citing numerous significant discoveries that otherwise would not have been made. According to Bruun, 140 crucial finds were unearthed along a number of drained waterways in the last couple of years in Agder alone.
This soaring interest in searching for historical objects and numerous prominent finds from the Viking Age and earlier that made headlines have spurred the growth of online communities such as “Metal detectors and history” and “Metalseekers’ association,” which now have thousands of members from across the country. Both the interest and the recognition may, in turn, spark further discoveries, shedding more light on ancient history and bygone days.
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