One of the woven silver wire objects
Restoration experts at the National Museum are working on a hoard of silver and bronze artefacts reckoned to be 1000 years old and found in Dunmore Cave in County Kilkenny. The artefacts differ from all others known to have survived from the Viking era. Senior archaeologists with the heritage service, Dúchas, have described the find as "significant and exciting".
The hoard consists of 43 objects, which are over 1,000 years old. Among the find is a group of 16 objects of woven silver wire in three sizes. These are a new type of Viking artefact, not previously seen either in Ireland or worldwide. There is also a bronze buckle and strap end from a leather belt, both highly decorated in Viking style.
A massacre is known to have taken place in the Dunmore cave in 928 AD. The cave has now been sealed off to stop people with metal detectors disturbing the site.
