According to the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities, a Dutch historian named Lorenzo Ruijter discovered a Medieval treasure trove in Hoogwoud, North Holland in 2021 using a metal detector. The treasure trove, which is over 1,000 years old, included valuable items such as four golden ear pendants, 39 silver coins, and two strips of gold leaf.
Ruijter had to keep the discovery a secret for two years while the National Museum of Antiquities experts cleaned, researched, and dated the objects. The researchers believe that one of the coins in the treasure dates back to 1250 CE, which is around the time when the treasure might have been buried. However, the jewelry found in the hoard was already at least two centuries old by that time. Ruijter described the discovery as very special and unexpected, and he was thrilled to find something of such great value.
“Golden jewelry from the High Middle Ages is extremely rare in the Netherlands,” the museum noted. The reason why the treasure was buried remains unknown. The Dutch National Museum of Antiquities suggested that the treasure trove might have been buried during the mid-13th century war between West Friesland and Holland as Hoogwoud was located at the center of this conflict.
Even though Lorenzo Ruijter is the owner of the treasure trove, it is currently on loan to the museum for display purposes.