A Construction Crew Found a 1,000-Year-Old Sword That's Remarkably Intact
A construction crew discovered a 1,000-year-old iron sword in the Netherlands still fully intact.
The short sword comes complete with decorative copper inlays.
The find could have been part of a ritual sacrifice or burial.
A medieval sword defied the elements for 1,000 years, preserved in riverbed clay, until it was recently discovered by a construction crew along the Korte Linschoten River in the Netherlands. After its retrieval and preservation, the find will now go on display at Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, the National Museum of Antiquities, showing off intricate copper inlays that give the sword a mysterious provenance.
The two-sided short sword dates to between 1050 and 1150 A.D. and its iron comes surprisingly well-kept, according to a translated statement from the museum.
Before display, the sword underwent a 10-week preservation process that included desalination, rinsing, and drying. It now features a protective coating to prevent corrosion. 'If you had just left it after the find, it would quickly go on to corrode and crumble,' said Hannelore Valentiin from Londgoed Linschoten, according to a translated report from Netherlands-based Archeologie Online. 'That's why we had to take immediate action to preserve it.'
X-rays taken during the preservation process revealed remnants of wood and leather on the handle, likely left over from the original grip.
The three-foot-long, 1.85-pound iron sword features a six-inch cross guard and a Brazil nut-shaped pommel, common for the 11th century Frankish swords, according to Archaeology Magazine.
'It is strikingly light, indicating that it was probably a good sword, easy to handle,' Valentiin said.
Still, experts believe the sword was likely ritual in nature.
The decorations may help tell the story. Copper wire inlay form a sun wheel on one side, with the 'sonnenrad' a circle containing a cross. This was a common symbol throughout the Middle Ages. The other side offers a common Viking Age symbol of an endless knot featuring five interlaced squares within a circle. The visual once represented unbreakable loyalty and eternal bonds.
Valentiin said that, during the time of the sword's burial, armies mainly fought with spears, which were cheaper and easier to make. Add in that since this sword was found without a scabbard, it may have been intentionally buried in the river and not lost during a battle. Offering a sword to a river was a common way to honor a dead fighter or sacrifice to the land.
Medieval swords were highly personal possessions, often buried with the owners, according to the museum, so few are preserved as well as this one. Jointly owned by the municipality of Montfoort and the Londgoed Linschoten estate, it was donated to the museum and is on display through August.
Initial research suggests the sword was likely made in Western Europe, possibly modern-day Germany, and the iron ore may have come from Veluwe in the Netherlands.
'This sword tells the story of a time when symbolism and spirituality were deeply intertwined, and when a simple design could transcend centuries,' a Montfoort City Council spokesperson previously told Historiek. 'It's refined craftsmanship and symbolic depth make it not only a historical relic, but also a work of art that reflects the cultural complexity of early medieval Europe.'
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