Image copyright AFP Image caption Harald Bluetooth might have buried the treasure while fleeing from enemies

Treasure linked to the reign of 10th Century Danish King Harald Bluetooth has been dug up in northern Germany.

An amateur archaeologist and a 13-year-old boy found a silver coin on the Baltic island of Rügen in January when scanning a field with metal detectors.

Experts kept the find secret until a team dug up 400sq metres (4,300sq ft) of land at the weekend.

They found braided necklaces, a Thor's hammer, brooches, rings and about 600 coins, probably buried in the 980s.

"This trove is the biggest single discovery of Bluetooth coins in the southern Baltic sea region and is therefore of great significance," said lead archaeologist Michael Schirren.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Christian crosses feature on many of the coins, but there is quite a variety

Harald Bluetooth was born a Viking and is credited with unifying Denmark and introducing Christianity there during his reign.

In the 980s he fled to Pomerania, now in north Germany, after losing a big sea battle against forces loyal to his son Sweyn Forkbeard. Bluetooth died in 987.

The king was immortalised by Nordic technology firms when they embedded their wireless "Bluetooth" technology in digital gadgets.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Rene Schoen (L) and 13-year-old student Luca Malaschnichenko were the first to find the treasure

The site of the treasure trove, Schaprode, is a few kilometres from Hiddensee, where a 16-piece gold hoard dating from Bluetooth's reign was found in the 19th Century.

The Schaprode discoverers - 13-year-old Luca Malaschnitchenko and amateur archaeologist René Schön - are in a group of enthusiasts looking after historical sites in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania state in north-eastern Germany.

Read more on rare archaeological finds:

Image copyright AFP Image caption Intense digging went on at the coastal site at the weekend

Warrior king

Bluetooth led his warriors in campaigns against Frankish nobles who ruled parts of France and Germany in the Carolingian Age.

After converting to Christianity in 950, he set up bishoprics in Denmark, consolidated his kingdom with forts and seized some territory in Norway and north Germany.

The earliest coin in the Schaprode hoard is reckoned to be a Damascus dirham dating from 714, and the latest ones are Frankish Otto-Adelheid pennies minted in 983.

More than 100 of the 600 coins are believed to have been minted in Bluetooth's kingdom. They have Christian crosses on them and were given to Danish nobles.</s>A 1000 year-old king’s treasure of buried silver & pearls has been discovered by a young boy and his metal detector. The spectacular discovery is being hailed as the largest of its kind ever found by the Baltic Sea.

The German Press Agency (DPA) gives report of an amateur archaeologist and his 13-year-old student who discovered the treasure trove of buried silver; believed to having been buried by the 10th century King Harald Blåtann (King Bluetooth).

LARGEST EVER FOUND

 Archaeologist Michael Schirren discussed the treasure story with DPA, saying “This treasure is the largest single discovery of King Blåtann coins ever found within the southern region of the Baltic Sea. It’s quite an important archaeological find.”

Archaeologist Detlef Jantzen also spoke with DPA, saying; “We have here the rare case of a discovery that appears to corroborate historical sources.”

TREASURE ISLAND

 The treasure was first discovered this past January. A 13 yr German boy named Luca and his teacher René Schön were using metal detectors upon a field near the village of Schaprode on the German island of Ruegen within the Baltic Sea. While searching, Luca found a small bit of something hidden within the dirt and brought his teacher’s attention to it, thinking that perhaps it was of aluminum.

Upon close inspection, the two determined that Luca had unearthed a very old coin.

 The 2 ‘would-be’ treasure hunters then contacted state archaeology and reported of their find.The state asked for secrecy to allow planning-time for a professional dig.

MEDIEVAL KINGDOMS

 This past weekend, the state archaeological department (along with Luca & René)

 excavated a 400 square meter (4,300 sq ft) area and found a stunning treasure trove

 of braided-silver collars, pearls, brooches, a ‘Thor’ hammer, finger rings and around 600 ‘fractional’ coins from ancient Saxon, Ottoman, Danish and Byzantine kingdoms.

Of the coins, most date from the era of King Harald Blåtann, (reigned AD 958 to 986)

 but the oldest coin, a Damascus Dirham, dates to year c. 714. Archaeologists believe that the treasure was buried in the late 980’s during the rein of King Harald ‘Bluetooth,’the Viking king who “won (consolidated) all of Denmark.”

GOLD TREASURE

 Other stunning artifacts from King Harald Bluetooth have been found within the area. In the late 19th century, The ‘Hiddensee’ buried treasure of 10th century gold pendants & jewelry was discovered upon an island only a few kilometers away from Ruegen.

King Harald Blåtann was 1 of 3 sons born to King Gorm-the-Old (“Old” referencing the king being of the ‘old’ noble bloodlines; not of his age) and his wife Thyra Dannebod. King Harald was one of the last Viking kings of what is now Denmark, Germany, Sweden and parts of Norway. King Harald is credited with being the first Nordic king to turn away from the olden Norse gods and embrace Christianity.

Bluetooth technology is named after the ancient Norse king, who ‘gathered together’

 fiefdoms and fashioned a cohesive whole (much as the Swedish company’s Bluetooth product ‘gathers together’ various components of information into one gadget) and the Bluetooth logo is comprised of the ancient, Nordic runes of King Harald’s initials: HB.</s>A 13-year-old boy and an amateur archaeologist have unearthed a “significant” trove in Germany which may have belonged to the Danish king Harald Bluetooth who brought Christianity to Denmark.

René Schön and his student Luca Malaschnitschenko were looking for treasure using metal detectors in January on northern Rügen island when they chanced upon what they initially thought was a worthless piece of aluminium.

But upon closer inspection, they realised that it was a piece of silver, German media reported.

Over the weekend, the regional archaeology service began a dig covering 400 sq metres (4,300 sq ft). It has found a hoard believed to be linked to the Danish king Harald Gormsson, better known as “Harry Bluetooth”, who reigned from around AD958 to 986.

Braided necklaces, pearls, brooches, a Thor’s hammer, rings and up to 600 chipped coins were found, including more than 100 that date back to Bluetooth’s era, when he ruled over what is now Denmark, northern Germany, southern Sweden and parts of Norway.

“This trove is the biggest single discovery of Bluetooth coins in the southern Baltic Sea region and is therefore of great significance,” the lead archaeologist, Michael Schirren, told national news agency DPA.

The oldest coin is a Damascus dirham dating to 714 while the most recent is a penny dating to 983.

The find suggests that the treasure may have been buried in the late 980s – also the period when Bluetooth was known to have fled to Pomerania, where he died in 987.

“We have here the rare case of a discovery that appears to corroborate historical sources,” said the archaeologist Detlef Jantzen.

Bluetooth is credited with unifying Denmark. The Viking-born king also turned his back on old Norse religion and introduced Christianity to the Nordic country.

But he was forced to flee to Pomerania after a rebellion led by his son Sven Gabelbart.

Bluetooth’s lasting legacy is found today in smartphones and laptops – the wireless Bluetooth technology is named after him, and the symbol is composed of the two runes spelling out his initials RB.</s>A medieval treasure trove that belonged to the legendary King Harald Bluetooth — the Danish ruler who inspired the name for Bluetooth technology — was recently unearthed on a German island by a 13-year-old and an amateur archaeologist, according to news sources.

The duo made the unexpected discovery while hunting for riches with metal detectors on Rügen, Germany's largest island, in the Baltic Sea. When a silvery glint caught their eye, they thought it was a piece of tin foil, but a closer look revealed that it was a piece of silver, The Guardian reported.

After more digging, with help from professional archaeologists, the team uncovered remarkable artifacts, including braided necklaces, pearls, brooches, a Thor's hammer (a representation of a mythical weapon forged by dwarves), rings and up to 600 chipped coins, including more than 100 that date to Bluetooth's era. [Photos: Viking-Age Fortress Unearthed in Denmark]

"This trove is the biggest single discovery of Bluetooth coins in the southern Baltic Sea region and is therefore of great significance," the lead archaeologist, Michael Schirren, told the German news outlet DPA, according to The Guardian.

Amateur archaeologist Rene Schön and 13-year-old treasurer hunter Luca Malaschnitschenko first unearthed the hoard in January, and recently joined a regional archaeology group to excavate about 4,300 square feet (400 square meters) to see what other treasures lay buried in the soil. Archaeologists believe the riches belonged to the Danish king Harald Gormsson, more commonly known as "Bluetooth," who ruled from about A.D. 958 to 986, and likely earned his nickname because of a discolored tooth, according to The Guardian.

Bluetooth is known for bringing Christianity to Demark in the 10th century. He's also credited with uniting swathes of modern-day Norway, Germany, Sweden and Denmark under his rule. This feat inspired Intel's Jim Kardach to name the tech service in honor of Bluetooth in 1997, given that "the new technology that would unify communications protocols like King Harald had united Scandinavia," according to Tom's Hardware, a Live Science sister site.

The oldest coin uncovered at Rügen dates to A.D. 714, while the youngest is a penny from A.D. 983. These dates indicate that the treasure was likely buried in the late 980s, when Bluetooth lost a battle against his rebellious son, Sweyn Forkbeard. After losing power, Bluetooth fled to Pomerania, a region that includes parts of modern northeast Germany and western Poland, according to USA Today. He died a year later in A.D. 987.

This is hardly the only archaeological treasure discovered by amateurs wielding metal detectors. In 2015, a man in England stumbled across a Roman-era grave that contained mosaic glassware, coins and hobnails from a pair of shoes, Live Science previously reported. And just last year, two amateurs with metal detectors discovered four gold torques dating to more than 2,000 years ago in central England, Live Science reported.</s>April 16 (UPI) -- A pair of amateur archaeologists found a treasure trove on a Baltic island that is believed to have belonged to a Danish king from more than 1,000 years ago.

René Schön and 13-year-old Luca Malaschnitschenko were rummaging around with metal detectors on the German island of Ruegen in the Baltic Sea when they happened upon the ancient treasure in January. But experts kept the find secret until last week.

"This was the [biggest] discovery of my life," Schön, a hobby archaeologist, told German news agency DPA.

The find includes silver coins, rings, pearls, bracelets and a Thor's hammer from the era of 10th century Danish King Harald Bluetooth.

"This trove is the biggest single discovery of Bluetooth coins in the southern Baltic sea region and is therefore of great significance," said lead archaeologist Michael Schirren, according to the BBC.

Experts believe the treasure may have been buried in the 980s. That may offer proof that Bluetooth fled the area to Pomerania after his son, Sven Gabelbart, led a rebellion against him, according to the Telegraph.

"We have here the rare case of a discovery that appears to corroborate historical sources,"archaeologist Detlef Jantzen said.

Bluetooth was a Viking-born king who renounced the Norse religion and is credited with unifying Denmark and introducing Christianity to the region.</s>Hundreds of 1,000-year-old silver coins, rings, pearls and bracelets linked to the era of Danish king Harald Gormsson have been found on the eastern German island of Ruegen in the Baltic Sea.

A single silver coin was first found in January by two amateur archaeologists, one of them a 13-year-old boy, in a field near the village of Schaprode.

The state archaeology office then became involved and the entire treasure was uncovered by experts over the weekend, the Mecklenburg-West Pomerania state archaeology office said.

“It’s the biggest trove of such coins in the south-eastern Baltic region,” a statement said.

The office said the two amateur archaeologists were asked to keep quiet about their discovery to give professionals time to plan the dig. They were then invited to participate in the recovery.

“This was the (biggest) discovery of my life,” hobby archaeologist Rene Schoen told the German news agency dpa.

Mr Schoen said he and 13-year-old Luca Malaschnitschenko were using metal detectors on the field near Schaprode when Luca found a little piece that he initially thought was only aluminium waste. But when they cleaned it, they understood it was more precious.

Archaeologists said about 100 of the silver coins are probably from the reign of Harald Gormsson, better known as Harald Bluetooth, who lived in the 10th century and introduced Christianity to Denmark.

He was one of the last Viking kings of what is now Denmark, northern Germany, southern Sweden and parts of Norway.

His nickname came from the fact he had a dead tooth that looked bluish, although the term is of course best known for the wireless Bluetooth technology invented by Swedish telecom company Ericsson.

The company named the technology, developed to wirelessly unite computers with cellular devices, after the king for his ability to unite ancient Scandinavia.

The technology logo carries the runic letters for his initials, HB.</s>Hundreds of 1,000-year-old silver coins, rings, pearls and bracelets linked to the era of Danish king Harald Gormsson have been found on the eastern German island of Ruegen in the Baltic Sea.

Hundreds of 1,000-year-old silver coins, rings, pearls and bracelets linked to the era of Danish king Harald Gormsson have been found on the eastern German island of Ruegen in the Baltic Sea.

A single silver coin was first found in January by two amateur archaeologists, one of them a 13-year-old boy, in a field near the village of Schaprode.

The state archaeology office then became involved and the entire treasure was uncovered by experts over the weekend, the Mecklenburg-West Pomerania state archaeology office said. “It’s the biggest trove of such coins in the south-eastern Baltic region,” a statement said.

An archaeologist holds an ancient Danish coin which was minted under King Harald Bluetooth (dpa/AP) The office said the two amateur archaeologists were asked to keep quiet about their discovery to give professionals time to plan the dig. They were then invited to participate in the recovery. “This was the (biggest) discovery of my life,” hobby archaeologist Rene Schoen told the German news agency dpa.

Mr Schoen said he and 13-year-old Luca Malaschnitschenko were using metal detectors on the field near Schaprode when Luca found a little piece that he initially thought was only aluminium waste. But when they cleaned it, they understood it was more precious. Archaeologists said about 100 of the silver coins are probably from the reign of Harald Gormsson, better known as Harald Bluetooth, who lived in the 10th century and introduced Christianity to Denmark.

Hobby archaeologist Rene Schoen and 13-year-old Luca Malaschnitschenko, who made the find (dpa/AP) He was one of the last Viking kings of what is now Denmark, northern Germany, southern Sweden and parts of Norway. His nickname came from the fact he had a dead tooth that looked bluish, although the term is of course best known for the wireless Bluetooth technology invented by Swedish telecom company Ericsson.</s>Treasure linked to the reign of 10th-century Danish King Harald Bluetooth has been dug up in northern Germany.

An amateur archaeologist and a 13-year-old boy found a silver coin on the Baltic island of Rügen in January when scanning a field with metal detectors.

Experts kept the find secret until a team dug up 400sq metres (4,300sq ft) of land at the weekend.

They found braided necklaces, a Thor's hammer, brooches, rings and about 600 coins, probably buried in the 980s.

"This trove is the biggest single discovery of Bluetooth coins in the southern Baltic sea region and is therefore of great significance," said lead archaeologist Michael Schirren.

Harald Bluetooth was born a Viking and is credited with unifying Denmark and introducing Christianity there during his reign.

In the 980s he fled to Pomerania, now in north Germany, after losing a big sea battle against forces loyal to his son Sweyn Forkbeard. Bluetooth died in 987.

The king was immortalised by Nordic technology firms when they embedded their wireless "Bluetooth" technology in digital gadgets.

The site of the treasure trove, Schaprode, is a few kilometres from Hiddensee, where a 16-piece gold hoard dating from Bluetooth's reign was found in the 19th Century.

The Schaprode discoverers - 13-year-old Luca Malaschnitschenko and amateur archaeologist René Schön - are in a group of enthusiasts looking after historical sites in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania state in north-eastern Germany.

Bluetooth led his warriors in campaigns against Frankish nobles who ruled parts of France and Germany in the Carolingian Age.

After converting to Christianity in 950, he set up bishoprics in Denmark, consolidated his kingdom with forts and seized some territory in Norway and north Germany.

The earliest coin in the Schaprode hoard is reckoned to be a Damascus dirham dating from 714, and the latest ones are Frankish Otto-Adelheid pennies minted in 983.

More than 100 of the 600 coins are believed to have been minted in Bluetooth's kingdom. They have Christian crosses on them and were given to Danish nobles.</s>When amateur archaeologist Rene Schön and his 13-year-old sidekick Luca Malaschnitschenko found a shiny piece of metal on a treasure hunt near Schaprode on the German Baltic Sea island of Rügen three months ago, they initially thought they had merely spotted a piece of tinfoil.

But it turned out to be part of the most significant single find of coins and ornaments linked to King Harald Bluetooth (910 – 987). He not only brought Christianity to Denmark in the 10th century, but was also the inspiration for today's Bluetooth technology.

"It was the find of my life," said Schön, who had to keep his discovery under wraps until now. At the weekend, he and Malaschnitschko joined professional archaeologists to dig up an area covering 400 square meters (4,300 square feet), unearthing braided necklaces, pearls, brooches, a Thor's hammer, rings and up to 600 chipped coins.

More than 100 pieces date back to Bluetooth's reign.

Schön's find was not entirely down to luck, perhaps, as in the 1870s, pieces of gold jewelry believed to be linked to Bluetooth were found on the island of Hiddensee, which is next to Rügen.

Harald Gormsson, who was known as Bluetooth because he had one strongly discolored tooth, reigned over what is now Denmark, northern Germany, southern Sweden and parts of Norway from 958 to 986.

The find suggests that the treasure may have been buried in the late 980s, when Bluetooth fled to Pomerania — an area that today straddles parts of northeast Germany and western Poland — after losing a battle against his son, Sweyn Forkbeard. He died a year later.

Bluetooth was said to be a good networker and communicator, which is why he shot to posthumous fame by serving as a project name for the wireless technology, which eventually stuck.

This article originally appeared on DW.com. Its content was created separately to USA TODAY.</s>BERLIN (AP) - Archaeologists on the German Baltic island of Ruegen have uncovered hundreds of 1,000-year-old silver coins, rings, pearls and bracelets that are linked to the era of the Danish King Harald Gormsson.

The German news agency dpa reported Monday a single coin was first found by two amateur archaeologists, one of them a 13-year-old boy, in a field near the village of Schaprode in January. The state's archaeology office then became involved and the entire treasure was recovered by experts last weekend.

Archaeologists said that some 100 silver coins are probably from the reign of Harald Gormsson, better known as "Harry Bluetooth," who lived in the tenth century and introduced Christianity to Denmark.

He was the king of what is now Denmark, northern Germany, southern Sweden and parts of Norway.

In this April 13, 2018 photo an archeologist holds an ancient Danish coin which was minted under King Harald Bluetooth after a medieval silver treasure had been found near Schaprdoe on the northern German island of Ruegen in the Baltic Sea. (Stefan Sauer/dpa via AP)

In this April 13, 2018 photo medieval jewelry and coins are displayed on a table after a medieval silver treasure had been found near Schaprode on the northern German island of Ruegen in the Baltic Sea. (Stefan Sauer/dpa via AP)

In this April 13, 2018 photo hobby archaeologist Rene Schoen and 13-year-old Luca Malaschnitschenko, right, search for coins after a medieval silver treasure had been found near Schaprode on the northern German island of Ruegen in the Baltic Sea. (Stefan Sauer/dpa via AP)
Archaeologists announce the discovery of a treasure haul potentially linked to 10th Century Danish King Harald Bluetooth in Rügen, Germany. The initial finds were made by amateur treasure hunters in January and the total haul is the largest of its type.