Scientists have determined that the weapon dates back to the period 850–950 AD and was presumably the property of a Viking warrior.
Einar Ambakk
Reindeer hunters in Norway have made a surprise discovery after finding an exceptionally well-preserved Viking Age sword while hunting in the highlands.
Secrets of The Ice , an organization that studies glacial archaeology, reported that hunters have found a 1,200-year-old sword. Einar Ombakk and two of his companions stumbled upon the ancient weapon in the mountains of the Oppland region.
The blade was found in a crevice between rocks on a plateau covered with scree – small-fragment rocks typical of the Norwegian landscape.
Despite the corrosion of the blade and the complete destruction of organic elements such as leather handles or decorative elements made of bone and wood, the condition of the artifact is considered outstanding. Experts attribute this to the effects of low temperatures and thin air, which slowed down the oxidation process.
Espen Finstad, Secrets of The Ice/Oppland Museum. Viking sword.
After the publication of photographs of the find on social networks, the scientific community organized additional research. Analysis confirmed that the sword was created in the 9th-10th centuries and probably belonged to a professional warrior.
Archaeologists, together with hunters, a metal detecting specialist and regional experts, re-examined the area.
The new excavations did not reveal any additional artifacts, but they did establish that the weapon was not hidden by permafrost or rock deposits. Researchers believe the sword had been exposed for over a thousand years.
The reasons for the Viking's appearance in this deserted area and the circumstances of the loss of the valuable blade remain unclear. One working hypothesis is that the owner may have gotten lost during an extreme snow storm.
The artifact is currently being studied by Norwegian specialists.
While the mystery of its origins will likely never be solved, the find serves as a unique window into the past, capturing the moment the weapon was lost among the mountainsides more than ten centuries ago.
Sourse: www.allthatsinteresting.com
