Things Vikings Hid in their Shields

Excavating a Viking grave dating to around 950, Norwegian archaeologists found a surprise. Hidden in this Viking's shield boss was a small bag of gold coins from the Muslim world.

Since the shield boss was badly damaged, possibly by an ax, the excavators think its owner might have been killed in battle. Amazing to think that a Viking warrior carried this loot all the way from Spain or Constantinople back home to Norway, only to be killed by an old rival before he could buy the farm he dreamed of.