Swedish scientists have recently discovered a 12th-century grave filled with hidden treasure. In total, Swedish archaeologists discovered 170 silver “bracted” coins during the excavation of an 850-year-old grave.
Swedish experts said the coins found date back to the 12th century. Photo: Jönköping County Museum.
The Jönköping County Museum announced this remarkable find in a press release on March 27, translated from Swedish to English. The discovery occurred during the excavation of a grave in an old church on Visingsö, an island in Sweden.
The coins were found in the grave of a man believed to have been between 20 and 25 years old at the time of his death. The silver pieces date from 1150 to 1180.
Archaeologists are still puzzled as to why these coins were found in a Christian tomb.
Project leader Anna Ödéen said: “My colleague Kristina Jansson and I found two skeletons in the crypt. We then removed the two skeletons to further study the ancient graves. Suddenly three silver coins appeared! We quickly realised that there were many more coins near the skeleton’s left foot.”
A total of 170 silver bractata were found. Bractata are thin, coin-shaped metal pieces used as jewellery.
While some might see this as simply the discovery of ancient metal objects, Swedish historians claim that this find is highly significant for their field.
The coins found date back to the 12th century.
The Jönköping Provincial Museum said: “This discovery is very special, partly because there are very few similar finds from that time and partly because some of the coins were unknown until now.”
The coins found date back to the 12th century.
What puzzles archaeologists is the presence of these coins in a Christian grave. Burying the dead with a large number of coins was not a common practice among medieval Christians. The press release explains: “It is rare for such finds to occur in Christian graves; this custom dates back to prehistoric times and makes the Visingsö excavation particularly unique. Why this young man, aged around 20, was buried with all these coins remains a mystery. The museum’s archaeologists hope to uncover more clues as they continue to dig deeper into this discovery.”
A Swedish coin expert described the find as “absolutely shocking.”
Eeva Jonsson, a leading Swedish coin expert, commented: “This is a groundbreaking discovery that will rewrite the history of medieval coinage in Götaland. It also sheds light on a period that is largely unknown.”
Review: Top 10 Cloud Services in the USA
Cloud computing has transformed how businesses operate, offering scalable, secure, and cost-effective solutions for storage, computing, and application management. The U.S. leads the global cloud market, with providers delivering innovative services tailored to startups, enterprises, and everything in between. Below is a comprehensive review of the top 10 cloud service providers in the USA for 2025, based on market share, service offerings, and customer feedback.
Amazon Web Services (AWS)AWS dominates with a 31% global market share, generating $24.2 billion in Q4 2023 revenue. It offers over 200 services, including compute (EC2), storage (S3), AI (SageMaker), and analytics. AWS’s 33 regions and 105 availability zones ensure low latency and high reliability. Its pay-as-you-go pricing starts at ~$0.0832/hour for a t3.large instance (2 vCPUs, 8GB RAM). Ideal for businesses needing scalability and cutting-edge AI tools.
Microsoft AzureAzure holds a 24% market share and is the fastest-growing major provider, with 30% revenue growth in 2023. It offers 200+ services, including IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, with strengths in AI, IoT, and enterprise integration. Azure’s pricing for a 2 vCPU, 8GB RAM instance (D2s v3) starts at ~$0.096/hour. Its hybrid cloud solutions and Microsoft ecosystem make it a top choice for enterprises.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP)GCP, with an 11.5% market share, excels in AI, machine learning (TensorFlow, BigQuery), and data analytics. It offers 150+ services across 24 regions and 73 zones. Pricing for an e2-standard-2 instance (2 vCPUs, 8GB RAM) starts at ~$0.070/hour, with up to 57% discounts for committed use. GCP is favored by data-driven businesses and developers.
IBM CloudIBM Cloud provides IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS with a focus on enterprise-grade security, AI (Watson), and hybrid/multi-cloud deployments. It serves industries like healthcare and finance, offering 170+ services. Pricing varies, but its pay-as-you-go model is competitive. IBM’s strong partner ecosystem and AIOps solutions enhance business transformation.
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)Oracle Cloud is gaining traction with its high-performance computing and database services. It offers cost-effective pricing, with a free tier and discounts for committed use. OCI’s focus on enterprise applications, like ERP and CRM, makes it ideal for large organizations. Its global network includes 40+ regions.
DigitalOceanDigitalOcean targets startups and developers with simple, affordable cloud hosting. Plans start at $2.50/month for 0.5GB RAM, 10GB storage, and 1 vCPU. Its managed databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and monitoring tools ensure reliability. DigitalOcean’s free credits and Hatch program support early-stage businesses.
VMware CloudVMware, now under Broadcom, specializes in multi-cloud and hybrid cloud solutions. It supports AWS, Azure, and GCP, offering consistent management across environments. VMware’s virtualization expertise and low-cost migration tools make it a top pick for enterprises modernizing data centers.
SalesforceSalesforce focuses on cloud-based CRM and customer service solutions. Its Service Cloud automates workflows and integrates with AI for personalized customer experiences. With 1.5 million users, it’s a leader for businesses prioritizing customer engagement. Pricing is subscription-based, tailored to business size.
CloudflareCloudflare is a CDN and security-focused provider, offering DDoS protection, DNS, and content delivery. Its user-friendly interface and integrations with WordPress and Shopify appeal to businesses needing fast, secure web performance. Pricing includes a free tier and pay-as-you-go plans.
Linode (Akamai) Linode, acquired by Akamai, offers developer-friendly cloud hosting with transparent pricing and a free tier. It integrates with Akamai’s CDN for enhanced performance. Plans start at $5/month for 1GB RAM, 25GB storage, and 1 vCPU. Linode is ideal for SMBs and tech-savvy users.
Choosing the Right Provider
Selecting a cloud provider depends on your needs: AWS, Azure, and GCP dominate for scalability and enterprise solutions; DigitalOcean and Linode cater to startups; Salesforce excels in CRM; and Cloudflare prioritizes web performance. Compare pricing, scalability, and security features. Check reviews on platforms like Gartner or Forbes Cloud 100 for insights. As cloud spending grows (projected at $591.8 billion in 2023), ensure your choice aligns with long-term goals.
