
1,000-year-old medieval sword emerges from Dutch river after chance discovery: 'Barely corroded'
The discovery of the sword was announced by the Netherlands' National Museum of Antiquities (RMO) in Leiden on June 24.
The artifact, named the Linschoten Sword, was found in March 2024 during "maintenance dredging activities," the museum said in a press release.
Construction workers were struck by a "long piece of iron" while cleaning a small river known as the Korte Linschoten, the statement noted.
The discovery turned out to be a sword measuring over three feet in length, dating back between 1050 and 1150 A.D.
Pictures show the sword with a long crossguard and a pommel shaped like a Brazil nut, the museum noted.
"The blade is sharp on both edges and inlaid with strips of gold-colored copper, forming circular motifs featuring a cross and an 'endless knot' flanked by three lines on each side," the RMO said.
Medieval swords are "rare finds."
The sword was likely made with high-quality iron that was mined locally in the Veluwe hills. Experts believe it was deliberately deposited into the river, as there was no trace of a scabbard or sheath.
The museum also noted that medieval swords were "deeply personal possessions."
"They were either buried with their owner or – alternatively – ritually deposited into water," the release noted. "In the latter case, they are often exceptionally well-preserved."
RMO curator Annemarieke Willemsen told Fox News Digital that medieval swords are "rare finds."
"When [swords are found], [they're] often well-preserved because they are made of top-quality steel," she explained.
Many swords were "deposited in a river, where they rested for centuries under the water table, in an anaerobic environment," the curator added.
"We have a similar sword with the same shape and date in our collections with the name 'Ulfberht' on the blade that was found in the river Schelde," she said. "We have [many] more swords from the Middle Ages more broadly.'"
"Only the organic components – such as the wooden grip and any leather wrappings – have succumbed to time."
In its statement, the museum noted that, though the sword was "remarkably well-preserved," it's possible that some components have decayed after 1,000 years.
"Only the organic components – such as the wooden grip and any leather wrappings – have succumbed to time," the RMO's press release added.
"The iron is barely corroded due to the oxygen-poor environment of the wet soil. Traces of the wooden hilt are still visible on the preserved sword."
The sword's remarkable preservation offers a rare connection to the 11th century, a period marked by frequent conflict in the Netherlands.
"During this period, the Bishop of Utrecht held authority in the region, although the Counts of Holland and Flanders were rising in power," the museum said.
"This era also saw a shift in military tactics and weaponry: vertical slashing from horseback gave way to horizontal thrusting between pieces of armor," the officials added.
"This sword, which could be wielded with one hand, embodies that transitional phase – suited to both techniques."
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New York Post
5 hours ago
- New York Post
1,000-year-old medieval sword found in Dutch river after construction workers stumbled upon the artifact
A remarkable medieval sword with rare symbols was recently put on display in a Dutch museum, over a year after it was found by construction workers unexpectedly. The discovery of the sword was announced by the Netherlands' National Museum of Antiquities (RMO) in Leiden on June 24. Advertisement The artifact, named the Linschoten Sword, was found in March 2024 during 'maintenance dredging activities,' the museum said in a press release. Construction workers were struck by a 'long piece of iron' while cleaning a small river known as the Korte Linschoten, the statement noted. The discovery turned out to be a sword measuring over three feet in length, dating back between 1050 and 1150 A.D. Pictures show the sword with a long crossguard and a pommel shaped like a Brazil nut, the museum noted. Advertisement 'The blade is sharp on both edges and inlaid with strips of gold-colored copper, forming circular motifs featuring a cross and an 'endless knot' flanked by three lines on each side,' the RMO said. The sword was likely made with high-quality iron that was mined locally in the Veluwe hills. Experts believe it was deliberately deposited into the river, as there was no trace of a scabbard or sheath. 3 A remarkable medieval sword with rare symbols was recently put on display in a Dutch museum, over a year after it was found by construction workers unexpectedly. Ruben de Heer/Rijksmuseum van Oudheden The museum also noted that medieval swords were 'deeply personal possessions.' Advertisement 'They were either buried with their owner or – alternatively – ritually deposited into water,' the release noted. 'In the latter case, they are often exceptionally well-preserved.' RMO curator Annemarieke Willemsen told Fox News Digital that medieval swords are 'rare finds.' 3 The artifact, named the Linschoten Sword, was found in March 2024 during 'maintenance dredging activities,' the museum said in a press release. Ruben de Heer/Rijksmuseum van Oudheden 'When [swords are found], [they're] often well-preserved because they are made of top-quality steel,' she explained. Advertisement Many swords were 'deposited in a river, where they rested for centuries under the water table, in an anaerobic environment,' the curator added. 'We have a similar sword with the same shape and date in our collections with the name 'Ulfberht' on the blade that was found in the river Schelde,' she said. 'We have [many] more swords from the Middle Ages more broadly.'' In its statement, the museum noted that, though the sword was 'remarkably well-preserved,' it's possible that some components have decayed after 1,000 years. 'Only the organic components – such as the wooden grip and any leather wrappings – have succumbed to time,' the RMO's press release added. 'The iron is barely corroded due to the oxygen-poor environment of the wet soil. Traces of the wooden hilt are still visible on the preserved sword.' The sword's remarkable preservation offers a rare connection to the 11th century, a period marked by frequent conflict in the Netherlands. 3 The discovery turned out to be a sword measuring over three feet in length, dating back between 1050 and 1150 A.D. Ruben de Heer/Rijksmuseum van Oudheden Advertisement 'During this period, the Bishop of Utrecht held authority in the region, although the Counts of Holland and Flanders were rising in power,' the museum said. 'This era also saw a shift in military tactics and weaponry: vertical slashing from horseback gave way to horizontal thrusting between pieces of armor,' the officials added. 'This sword, which could be wielded with one hand, embodies that transitional phase – suited to both techniques.'


Fox News
14 hours ago
- Fox News
1,000-year-old medieval sword emerges from Dutch river after chance discovery: 'Barely corroded'
A remarkable medieval sword with rare symbols was recently put on display in a Dutch museum, over a year after it was found by construction workers unexpectedly. The discovery of the sword was announced by the Netherlands' National Museum of Antiquities (RMO) in Leiden on June 24. The artifact, named the Linschoten Sword, was found in March 2024 during "maintenance dredging activities," the museum said in a press release. Construction workers were struck by a "long piece of iron" while cleaning a small river known as the Korte Linschoten, the statement noted. The discovery turned out to be a sword measuring over three feet in length, dating back between 1050 and 1150 A.D. Pictures show the sword with a long crossguard and a pommel shaped like a Brazil nut, the museum noted. "The blade is sharp on both edges and inlaid with strips of gold-colored copper, forming circular motifs featuring a cross and an 'endless knot' flanked by three lines on each side," the RMO said. Medieval swords are "rare finds." The sword was likely made with high-quality iron that was mined locally in the Veluwe hills. Experts believe it was deliberately deposited into the river, as there was no trace of a scabbard or sheath. The museum also noted that medieval swords were "deeply personal possessions." "They were either buried with their owner or – alternatively – ritually deposited into water," the release noted. "In the latter case, they are often exceptionally well-preserved." RMO curator Annemarieke Willemsen told Fox News Digital that medieval swords are "rare finds." "When [swords are found], [they're] often well-preserved because they are made of top-quality steel," she explained. Many swords were "deposited in a river, where they rested for centuries under the water table, in an anaerobic environment," the curator added. "We have a similar sword with the same shape and date in our collections with the name 'Ulfberht' on the blade that was found in the river Schelde," she said. "We have [many] more swords from the Middle Ages more broadly.'" "Only the organic components – such as the wooden grip and any leather wrappings – have succumbed to time." In its statement, the museum noted that, though the sword was "remarkably well-preserved," it's possible that some components have decayed after 1,000 years. "Only the organic components – such as the wooden grip and any leather wrappings – have succumbed to time," the RMO's press release added. "The iron is barely corroded due to the oxygen-poor environment of the wet soil. Traces of the wooden hilt are still visible on the preserved sword." The sword's remarkable preservation offers a rare connection to the 11th century, a period marked by frequent conflict in the Netherlands. "During this period, the Bishop of Utrecht held authority in the region, although the Counts of Holland and Flanders were rising in power," the museum said. "This era also saw a shift in military tactics and weaponry: vertical slashing from horseback gave way to horizontal thrusting between pieces of armor," the officials added. "This sword, which could be wielded with one hand, embodies that transitional phase – suited to both techniques."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Fortune-telling die among castle's quirky finds
A medieval toilet and a jet die used to predict the future were some of the findings that could help build a picture of everyday life at a medieval bishop's palace. Archaeologists at Auckland Castle in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, finally put down their trowels last Friday, ending more than seven years of excavations at the site. A detailed analysis of the findings, which could take up to two years, is currently under way. The final summer of digging culminated with the discovery of a huge medieval wall, but other interesting objects - from mundane to magical - have also been found since 2018. At least three medieval toilets have been found over the years "dotted around the site" according to John Castling, the Auckland Project's archaeology curator. "One is ironically very near to where the toilets are now for our visitors," he said. The latest one was found in June. The facility, known as a garderobe, is next to the Great Hall, where the bishops and their guests would have feasted. It might not seem particularly hygienic today, but at the time it was a "much cleaner way" than most people had in their houses, Mr Castling said. "It's demonstrating the power and importance of the bishops and their households." It is believed the toilets were last used in the 13th Century. Described as one of the most "rare and unusual" findings at the site, a whale baleen was discovered "sandwiched" between off cuts of 17th Century glass. Baleen is found inside the mouths of some whale species and is used instead of teeth to help filter prey. If a whale washed up on a nearby shore, it was claimed by the bishop as a token of their semi-regal status but also as a resource, Mr Castling said. The baleen was used in a similar way to modern day solid plastics and was put in items such as corsets, painting brushes and gauntlets. "In the modern world we tend to think of whales as beautiful creatures that are not a resource," Mr Castling said. "But in the medieval period they were viewed with a degree of reverence, but they were also seen as a resource that could be used if it washed up on the shore." A jet die was also found, but it was not used to play games. Instead, in the medieval period people believed the item could help predict the future. Mr Castling said there were not many similar dice in the UK and most were found in religious sites. When rubbed, jet sparks and gives off static. "When you first say to people, they had dice which they used in order to try and discern the future, that sounds completely alien to our modern rational world," Mr Castling said. "But it produces something that feels magical." Some items at the site have travelled from further afield. Archaeologists have found a 17th Century knife, believed to have come from Amsterdam, as well as French jettons, coin-type objects used in calculations. An amphora though to originate from south-west Spain was also discovered last summer. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Surprise wall find as years of excavations end Uncovered 1650s house captures 'a moment in time' Durham University The Auckland Project