Latest news with #RijksmuseumvanOudheden
New York Post
07-07-2025
- General
- 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.'
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A Construction Crew Found a 1,000-Year-Old Sword That's Remarkably Intact
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: 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.' 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?
