Metal detectorist spots green object — and finds rare 400-year-old artifact. See it
A metal detectorist in Denmark stumbled on a worn green object — and found a unique, well-used 400-year-old artifact. A photo shows the rare find.
The metal detectorist from Sundeved spotted the tarnished bronze item and, recognizing its significance, gave it to officials, Museum Sønderjylland said in an April 24 Facebook post.
The museum identified it as a rare belt hook from between roughly 1450 and 1600, or the late Middle Ages. The worn bronze artifact was shaped like two lovers embracing.
A photo shows the green-brown belt hook. A male figure stands on the left, his arms reaching around a female figure. The pair appear to stand on a small loop.
The 400-year-old belt hook would be clipped onto a belt and used to hold other objects such as keys, the museum said. The main clip is long gone, likely broken during use, but two additional holes were drilled into the hook so that it could still be attached to a belt with string.
Officials said the shape of the belt hook was a common motif used in art and literature during the Middle Ages. The embracing pair symbolized a concept of love focused on devotion and physical touch.
These types of old belt hooks are rare and likely unique to Denmark, the museum said, but a few have been found in Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom.
Sundeved is a peninsula in southern Denmark, a roughly 200-mile drive southwest from Copenhagen, and near the border with Germany.
Google Translate was used to translate the Facebook post from Museum Sønderjylland.
This story was originally published May 1, 2024 at 9:41 AM with the headline "Metal detectorist spots green object — and finds rare 400-year-old artifact. See it."
