A Campaign has been launched to ensure a Viking treasure hoard which could re-write the history of Furness, remains on display in the area.

The Furness Hoard, which was discovered by a novice metal detectorist at land next to Stainton Quarry, near Dalton-in-Furness, went on display yesterday at the Dock Museum, Barrow, for a month to give visitors the first chance to see it and to help with the fundraising campaign.

The treasure features 92 several silver coins and artefacts, including ingots and one near-complete silver bracelet, dating from the Dark Ages and an independent Treasure Valuation Committee has valued it at £49,500.

Of this, £19,000 will go to the Dock Museum for its display, but the museum still needs to raise another £30,500 within six months to ensure it can remain there.

It is being billed as ‘the missing link’ by experts who say it is the long-awaited material culture of the 9th and 10th century Vikings who would have settled and operated in the peninsula.

It is the first time that a significant amount of valuable Viking booty has been recovered from the Furness soil that indisputably links the area with the Norse mariners, and local history stands to be re-written as a result.

Museum curator Sabine Skae described it as ‘very exciting for Furness’.

Among the coins is a pair of Arabic dirhams – silver currency which also circulated in 10th century Europe.

Ms Skae, who has been in charge of collections and exhibitions at the Dock Museum for almost eight years, said: “It has national significance because hoards from this period are rare and also nothing has been found in such quantity in this area before.

“In an age with very few written records hoards provide crucial clues on the trading economy and politics.”

The metal detectorist, who is not being named, made the discovery on land owned by Tarmac.

Estates manager Jonathan Garbutt said: “When we heard that this had been discovered on our land, it was quite a surprise. As a company we spend quite a lot of money on archaeology so we have find things on this site, such as the remains of old walls, but nothing of monetary value.”

Experts believe the silver was put into the ground sometime around 955 AD when the Viking invaders had established footholds in the north of England.

Dr Gareth Williams, Viking expert at the British Museum, said: “On the basis of the information and photographs that I have seen so far, this is a fascinating hoard.

“By the mid-950s, most of England had become integrated into a single kingdom, with a regulated coinage, but this part of the north-west was not integrated into the English kingdom until much later, and the hoard reflects that. It’s a good reminder of how much finds like this can tell us about the history of different parts of the country.”

“I hope that the Dock Museum are successful in acquiring such an important find for the region.”