Archaeology breakthrough as Medieval stash of 'devil's money' found at cult site
manchestereveningnews.co.ukArchaeologists have unearthed a stash of 1,300-year-old gold and silver coins offered as "devil's money" at a rare medieval cult site in the Netherlands.
The discovery gives a rare insight into the rituals of pre-Christian groups, as the researchers say the site served as an important cult centre during a period of shifting social, religious and cultural influences in the region.
The researchers say the 404 coins found could have been offered as "devotional instruments" to pagan gods as diobolgeldæ, or “devil's money”.
The offerings included hoards of gold and silver coins, and jewellery such as a pendant and earring. "One may even argue that the offering of coins and other valuables was a kind of social gift-exchange system to the gods," the authors wrote in the study.
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