Trove of ancient and rare silver currency found at site of Lithuanian manor. See it
While exploring a decaying manor in Lithuania, archaeologists unexpectedly discovered something much more valuable — a trove of rare, ancient currency.
The “lietuviškų ilgųjų lobis,” which translates to treasure of Lithuanian longs, was unearthed from Kernavė manor, according to an Aug. 11 Facebook post from the Kernavė archaeological site. The Lithuania longs were a form of currency that was used between the 11th and 14th centuries, when coins were first introduced.
Lithuanian longs are semi-circular silver bars, officials said in the post. The bars were incredibly valuable — just one could pay for 14 sheep — so they were often divided into smaller pieces worth varying amounts.
Experts said finding unbroken longs is rare. Several smaller pieces and silver fragments were found as well.
Kernavė Archaeological Site was home to ancient humans starting in the Paleolithic Period through the Middle Ages, according to UNESCO. It was an important feudal town in the Middle Ages until it was destroyed in the late 14th century.
The site is in eastern Lithuania.
Facebook and Google Translate were used to translate a Facebook post from the Kernavė archaeological site.
This story was originally published August 11, 2023 at 1:54 PM with the headline "Trove of ancient and rare silver currency found at site of Lithuanian manor. See it."
