In Germany, a mysterious religious artifact a thousand years old was found

Amateur archaeologists in northern Germany found a large Viking-era hoard (10th century CE) near the ancient settlement of Haithabu. Among the discovered items are Arabic coins, silver ingots, ceramic fragments, and a mysterious pendant with ambiguous religious significance.

As reported by BAKU.WS, the discovery was announced by the Live Science portal.

The finds were made near the shores of Schlei - an arm of the Baltic Sea, where trade between Europe, Scandinavia, and the Arab world flourished during the Viking era. In addition to coins and jewelry, chopped silver and a whetstone were also excavated here.

According to researchers, the medallion that intrigued them could be either a Christian cross or the hammer of the god Thor. If it is a cross, the artifact could shed light on the early Christianization of Scandinavia, where the missionary Saint Ansgar arrived in the 9th century.

However, the loop for wearing is positioned so that when worn, the pendant hangs upside down, which suggests the possibility of its pagan origin - Thor's hammer symbolized loyalty to the Scandinavian gods.

As noted by Birte Anspach, a representative of the State Archaeological Department, the Christianization of the region was gradual, and many generations continued to worship the old gods even after the appearance of the first Christian symbols.