STOCKHOLM (AFP) - Swedish experts have confirmed the finding of over 1,000 Viking-era silver coins after their chance discovery by two brothers on the Swedish island of Gotland. The treasure was believed to have been buried in the 10th century and weighed about 3 kilos (7 pounds), local curator Majvor Ostergren told the TT news agency. Edvin Sandborg, 20, and his 17-year-old brother Arvid dug up more than 100 coins on Monday last week, while helping their neighbour with his garden. "Completely by accident I found an Arabic silver coin that's about 1,100 years old," Edvin Sandborg told TT. The brothers contacted the local council and archaeologists are now close to completing their excavation of the site, TT said. Most of the coins were recovered in relatively good condition. The two brothers were in line for a finder's fee from the government, although the precise amount of the reward was not yet known, officials said. Over 700 Viking treasure troves have been found on the island of Gotland, which lies off Sweden's east coast. The world's largest known Viking hoard was found on the island in 1997. The find included coins and jewelry, amounting to about 65 kilos (143 pounds) of silver and 20 kilos (44 pounds) of bronze. The government awarded the finder 2.1 million kronor (290,00 dollars, 228,000 euros), TT said. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061030/od_afp/swedenarchaeology_061030210747
