The Eight-Year-Old Who Found A Viking Belt Buckle During A Family Beach Vacation
Andreas TillemaBruno Tillema, the young boy who found the Viking buckle.
In September 2023, Newsweek reported on yet another archaeological discovery made by a child.
An eight-year-old by the name of Bruno Tillema was vacationing with his family on the Swedish island of Gotland when he saw a strange-looking block of metal lying in front of him. Curious, the youngster picked up the object and continued on his way, unaware that this little artifact was more than 900 years old.
“We had just given him a book about fossils, and because of that he was actively scanning the ground with his eyes,” his father, Andreas Tillema, explained. When Bruno’s mother asked what he was carrying, neither parent could initially believe their son had found a genuine artifact.
The family contacted a relative who worked as an archaeologist to identify the mysterious object. A video call soon revealed that Bruno had seemingly discovered an ancient Viking belt buckle from between 800 and 1100 C.E.
The bronze artifact was intricately carved into the shape of an animal’s head, a design typically associated with Gotland women’s graves from the late Iron Age or early Viking period.
Recognizing the significance of the find, the family immediately contacted the local administrative board. Three archaeologists were dispatched to investigate the site, with Bruno proudly directing them to the exact location of his discovery.
Andreas TillemaThe bronze Viking belt buckle.
The professional excavation that followed proved even more rewarding. Researchers from Gotland’s museum conducted a thorough investigation and uncovered a second artifact: another bronze buckle, this one ring-shaped.
According to Therese Lindström, cultural environment manager at the Gotland County Administrative Board, ring buckles were found in both men’s and women’s graves during the Viking era. Experts believed the grave containing the buckles had been disturbed at some earlier point, likely through agricultural plowing, which brought the artifacts to the surface, where Bruno could spot them.
Both buckles were sent away for professional preservation, with the National Antiquities Authority in Sweden ultimately determining their final destination.
Bruno was also compensated for his discovery, following Swedish protocols for archaeological finds.
“Bruno is really proud of what he found and happy that he’s finally allowed to tell people about it,” his father said. “He has even started thinking about becoming an archaeologist when he grows up. His dream is to find a T. rex skull.”
After reading about these archaeological discoveries made by kids, learn about 14 of history’s most important archaeological discoveries and sites. Then, see some of the most stunning ancient mosaics uncovered in recent years.
