This paper seeks to contribute to a recent debate on the use of private metal detectingand its value within archaeology. Specifically it explores – by presenting somerecently found Viking Period artefacts from Denmark – how private metal detectingcan contribute to our understanding of Viking minds. By bringing together themyths as related by Snorri Sturluson in the early 13th century with the artefacts, Iargue that thanks to private metal detecting through the last decades, our ability torecognise Viking art as narrative art has improved substantially.