Hoard from Sarve, Hiiumaa – reviewing local history

Abstract

In 2024, a hobbyist discovered silver coins, a penannular brooch, a mount, and a brooch needle from Sarve village on Hiiumaa Island. Subsequent archaeological investigations covered an area of over 600 m2 at the presumed location of the treasure and excavated a 1.39 m2 trench to collect any coins that might have remained in the ground. The coins were dated to the 11th century, and the other items to the 12th-14th centuries. The location of the find spot of the oldest coins in Hiiumaa indicate that the Sarve coastline was a harbour or mooring place in the Final Iron Age and provide important new information for research into the settlement history of the island.