Near the city of Stavanger in Norway, amateur archaeologists have discovered a magnificently decorated sword from the Viking Age. The handle, pommel and crossbar of this weapon, forged around 1200 years ago, are adorned with gold and silver ornaments. According to researchers, the technology and motifs of this sword suggest that it was not created by Vikings, but came from mainland Europe – it may have been the spoils of a Viking raid.
Northwest of the Stavanger urban area in Norway lies a well-known archeological site from the Viking Age. There, in Gausel, the grave of a high-ranking Viking woman, possibly a queen, was discovered as early as 1883. Her tomb is richly furnished with valuable burial objects, including silver and bronze jewellery, beads, decorated knives and a horse snaffle. Moreover, some of these objects do not come from Scandinavia, but from Great Britain and Ireland.
Decorations in gold and silver
Now two amateur treasure hunters have made another find in the Gausel area. Using their metal detectors, they uncovered three fragments of a valuable sword. Closer investigations by scientists from the Museum of Archeology at Stavanger University revealed that it is a sword from around 800 – and thus from the Viking era. Although the sword blade is missing, the shape and size of the hilt suggest that this is one of the largest and most ornate swords known to date from the Viking Age, according to archaeologists.
“It’s exciting to make such a find, we discover new details every day,” says curator Cora Oschmann. The hilt of the sword bears unique decorations in gold and silver. Among them are geometric figures made of silver, which are made in the so-called niello technique. Lines and patterns are engraved in the silver, which are then highlighted with black paint. The two ends of the crossbar are shaped into animal heads. “The craftsmanship is of a very high quality and the rich and intricate decor and the spatial shaping of the crossbar make this a truly unique find,” says Zanette Glørstad of the Museum of Archaeology.
Imported from France or England
The sword find is also significant for another reason: the decorations suggest that this Viking sword did not come from a local Scandinavian production. Because the ornamentation and animal motifs are similar to historical swords that were forged in Western Europe. “The decoration suggests that this sword was made in France or England,” says Glørstad. The sword that is most similar to the new find is a sword that is also around 1,200 years old and that was discovered in a grave on the Scottish island of Eigg. “The new sword can also be dated to this period, like the Eigg sword,” says the archaeologist.
According to the research team, there is some evidence that the Gausel sword did not come from Scandinavia, but was imported. It is possible that the precious weapon was captured during a Viking raid and brought to Gausel, but it could also have reached Scandinavia through trade. “The location close to the grave of the Viking queen suggests that we should take a closer look at the whole Jåttå/Gausel area,” says Håkon Reiersen of the Museum of Archaeology. “Because the outstanding collection of spectacular imported finds in this area shows that this was obviously an important junction for connections across the North Sea.”
Source: The University of Stavanger