Latest news with #CountyAdministrativeBoard
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
A Passerby Went for a Casual Stroll—and Stumbled Upon a 1,000-Year-Old Viking Artifact
A passerby discovered a rare Viking-era iron bracelet in a wetland on the Swedish island of Öland. The open-ended bracelet style is rare in large part because of the use of iron. Officials plan to undergo a deeper search of the area to see if the find was a one-off or if there is a hoard stashed nearby. In a new discovery announced by the County Administrative Board of Kalmar County in Sweden on a translated Facebook post, someone who officials are calling 'an attentive person' discovered what first appeared to be an unremarkable, rusted-out bracelet. Instead, the find turned out to be a rare example of an iron arm brace from the Viking era. Karl-Oskar Erlandsson (an archaeologist from Kalmar) said that from the over 1,000 Viking-era bracelets in the country's State Historical Museum, only three of the ancient objects are made of iron. This is in part because iron is a highly corrosive material, and experts believe that the oxygen-poor environment of the wetland helped preserve the bracelet better than others like it. That preservation also allowed for the fine craftsmanship of the piece to shine through after 1,000 years. 'The newly found armband is beautifully ornate with rows of points and has animal heads at the ends,' the statement read, regarding the C-shaped bracelet and the raised dots on the exterior. 'Similar findings have been made on Gotland, but this particular variant we have not yet found an exact equivalent to.' Öland was once a key trading post for Sweden, especially during the Viking age. The country's second-largest island sits off the southeast coast of the mainland, surrounded by the Baltic Sea. It was at one time known for the Borgholm Castle, and is also home to Solliden Palace—a royal family summer retreat. Officials have plans to search for more information about the origins of the bracelet, hoping they can find a marking from a workshop or blacksmith once they preserve the armband. Maybe there's even more rare treasure to find, although the fact that the bracelet was discovered in a wetland makes it less likely that it came from a lost settlement or gravesite, the statement read. Still, once the weather allows, officials plan to scour the area with metal detectors to see if they can discover more lost Viking-age treasure. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Local Sweden
14-02-2025
- Local Sweden
Tensions after reindeer killed following Sami protest of rally in northern Sweden
After 50 years of the event being held in the region of Värmland in western Sweden, the rally was moved north to the area around the town of Umeå in 2022. The move north guaranteed snowy roads, but also meant the event, the second round of the World Rally Championship, would pass through reindeer herding territory – which is practised by Sweden's indigenous Sami. Local Sami representatives have opposed parts of the rally and appealed the County Administrative Board's permit for the track, just a week before the rally, saying there were reindeer in some of the areas of the rally's route, according to broadcaster SVT. On Sunday, three reindeer were found dead on a road outside Umeå, and reindeer herder Maidi Eira Andersson told newspaper Dagens Nyheter (DN) she felt there was a clear link to the conflict between the herders and the rally. "It happens right after our appeal and near the rally. That's not a coincidence," Andersson told DN, adding the reindeer all had their throats cut open. Prosecutor Anna Nilsson confirmed to AFP an investigation had been opened into the case. "We are investigating intentional damage and aggravated animal cruelty," Nilsson told AFP. Nilsson also said investigating the motive was part of the investigation but said she could not comment on speculation about whether it was related to the conflict between the herders and the rally. As the race got under way, Welsh driver and 2024 runner-up Elfyn Evans of Toyota claimed the first stage on Thursday. Teammate Kalle Rovanperä of Finland and Estonia's Ott Tänak behind the wheel of a Hyundai filled out the top three.
