ABSTRACT
The ‘Golden Age’ of Scandinavia is – strictly speaking – the Migration Period. Immense numbers of gold objects were deposited over a few generations in the fifth and early sixth centuries AD. They comprise highly artistic rings (neck- and armrings), adornments for weapons, dress accessories, bracteates, so-called payment rings, etc. These gold hoards fascinate and challenge archaeologists and historians of religion because they signal ‘wealth’ and ‘power’. From the point of view of profit and economic strength, it is easy to understand our ‘rational’ approach towards the gold depositions, although no consensus exists as to the meaning of these hoards.
