Archaeologists have unearthed a hoard of Viking treasure that was hidden for more than a 1,000 years. The treasure was found on a mountainside in Årdal, Hjelmeland municipality, in Norway, the University of Stavanger (UiS) announced in a press release.

Excavations at the 1,100-year-old farm also found several structures for people, possibly enslaved workers and animals, Demuth said. These buildings showed signs of being burnt down during a period of widespread unrest in the Viking Age. Other artifacts found in Årdal included pots, knives and sharpening tools, Demuth said.

Silver was the Vikings’ treasure of choice. Their affinity for the metal gives discoveries of silver artifacts significant historical value—much like a treasure recently found in the mountains of Norway, one that had sat undisturbed since the 9 th century AD.

The research team uncovered the treasure while examining a field in Årdal, Norway ahead of the construction of a new road.