SAEDNEWS: Researchers say the pit leading to the coins was probably dug by a badger in January last year, when a severe snowstorm hit northwestern Spain. As animals searched the frozen ground for worms and insects to survive, the digging may have accidentally revealed the hidden treasure.
According to the History Desk of Saed News, citing Fararu, archaeologists say that thanks to the efforts of a food-seeking badger, a treasure of nearly 200 coins from the Roman Empire has been discovered in northwestern Spain.
The coins—described as an “exceptional find”—were uncovered in La Cuesta Cave in Bercio, located in the autonomous region of Asturias, Spain.
Researchers believe the pit leading to the coins was likely dug by a badger in January of last year. At the time, a severe snowstorm swept across northwestern Spain, prompting many animals to dig into the ground in search of worms and insects to survive the harsh conditions. This unlucky mammal, however, unearthed only several inedible round pieces of metal, which were later spotted and identified by a local resident.
Archaeologists report that several coins were found at the mouth of the burrow and among the sand displaced by the animal’s digging. More coins were discovered deeper inside the cavity.
Most of the coins date to the late Roman Empire, between the third and fifth centuries CE, and originate from regions in the northern and eastern Mediterranean, including Antioch, Constantinople, and Thessaloniki. According to researchers, “the number of coins discovered, along with the compelling historical context of the transfer of power in the early Middle Ages, makes the Bercio hoard an exceptional find.”
Scholars believe the 209 coins were likely transported to the area during the political instability of the fifth century CE, when the Suebi—a branch of Germanic peoples—invaded the northwestern Iberian Peninsula.
The animal responsible belongs to a species commonly known as the Eurasian badger, native to Europe and parts of Asia. About the size of a medium dog, these mammals are highly skilled diggers, using their powerful claws and jaws to construct underground burrows. They typically rest in their dens during the day and emerge at night to forage for plants and small prey.
Details of the discovery were recently published by the Autonomous University of Madrid.
