A History of the World in 100 Objects: Vale of York Hoard

Director of the British Museum Neil MacGregor retells the history of human development from the first stone axe to the credit card, using 100 selected objects from the Museum. This week he discusses objects that illuminate the traders, pilgrims and raiders who swept across Europe and Asia between the 9th and 13th centuries. Neil examines a great Viking treasure hoard that was discovered by metal detectors in a field in North Yorkshire. This dramatic recent discovery, consisting of over 600 coins buried in a silver cup, dates back to the 10th century and reveals the astonishing range of Viking activity. There are coins here minted as far away as Afghanistan and Iraq. Neil describes what the England of the early 900s was really like, and unravels the cliches that abound about the Vikings. Historian Michael Wood helps set the scene and the father and son team who found the hoard, David and Andrew Whelan, recall the excitement of the discovery