Under the cane roof of the Museum Seefahrerhaus at Lake Sellin the culturally and historically valuable Blauzahn treasure is guarded as a carefully crafted copy. The Haitabuh coins, arm and neck ring fragments as well as pearls, were once in the travel treasury of the Danish king Harald Gormson and were found in 2018 in a field on the island of Rügen.
King Blauzahn, whose real name was Harald Gormsson, had united Denmark under one crown for the first time. He was king of Denmark (c. 936/958-987) and Norway (970-987) and wanted to impose Christianization. But his son Sven Forkbeard rebelled against him. At the Battle of Helgenes, which probably took place near Bornholm around 986, the son was victorious. An arrow hit Harald Blauzahn from a night ambush, but he escaped to Pomerania.
Sven Forkbeard later had his father’s coins withdrawn from circulation. They were given only to a few faithful people and in this way became more and more valuable. The treasure, which the honorary archaeological monument conservator René Schön found with the 13-year-old volunteer Luca Malatschnischenko in a field in the northwest of the island of Rügen, is presumably the king’s „travel money“ buried on the run.
The Blauzahn treasure represents the largest collection of coins with Haithabu markings in the southern Baltic region. Coins from England, Venice and even Baghdad have also been found. Copies, carefully made by René Schön from Rügen, are shown in illuminated display cases supported by an interactive guided tour in the special exhibition. A visit is also worthwhile to learn about the cultural history of fishermen and farmers in southeast Rügen and unique fossils.
Seestraße 17 b
18586 Ostseebad Sellin
+49 38303-371105
www.ruegen-museen.de
Sunday-Friday 11:00-17:00 o’clock
Saturday day off
adults 5,00 €
Adults incl. spa card 3,00 €
Reduced (children up to 18, pupils, students) 2,00 €
Children up to 6 free
Group discount from 8 persons 3,50 €
Group discount for school classes 1,50 €