DetectingWales.com

By Tim Collins  Published: 12:49, 13 September 2017 

An astonishingly well-preserved 1,100-year-old Viking sword has been discovered at the top of a mountain in Norway.

Reindeer hunter Einar Ambakk stumbled upon the weapon while reindeer hunting, and only discovered it was a sword when he pulled the blade out from in between rocks.

Experts say the unique find was likely preserved by the cold conditions, high altitude and the quality of the metal used in its construction.

An astonishingly well-preserved 1,100-year-old Viking sword (pictured) has been discovered at the top of a mountain in Norway. The rare find was reported to Lars Pilø, an archaeologist, who estimates that it dates back to the period between 850 and 950 AD


HOW DID THE SWORD GET THERE?

No other artefacts were found alongside the sword, after researchers searched a distance of up to 20 metres from the find spot.

Writing on his blog Secrets of the Ice, Lars Pilø, an archaeologist for Oppland County Council said: 'It appears unlikely that the sword has reappeared on the surface due to permafrost movement of stones, as it is well preserved without any kind of scratches and bending.

‘Most likely is was still in its original position or had slid somewhat down between the stones.

The sword was found 5,400 feet (1,640 metres) above sea level, and Mr Pilø said it was mostly preserved by the cold conditions, high altitude and the quality of the metal.

He said the owner of the sword may have got lost and died on the mountain, although it is impossible to know exactly what happened.


It would most likely have had bone, wood or leather covering the grip, but the organic parts have decayed over the centuries.

Extensive searches of the area - which was re-located using geographical data stored in photos taken by the two hunters who uncovered the find - were undertaken by members of the Secrets of the Ice team from the local council.

But despite their efforts, no further items have been discovered.
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‘We surveyed the find spot closely, both visually and using a metal detector.

‘The survey, which covered a distance of up to 20 metres (65 feet) from the find spot, did not result in any further finds.

'The sword is thus an isolated find.' 

It may seem strange for it sword to have survived on the surface for more than a millennium.

The sword was found 5,400 feet (1,640 metres) above sea level. This image shows finder Einar Åmbakk holding the sword, just moments after it was discovered
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For most of the year, the find spot would have been frozen over and covered in snow.

Isolated finds of well-preserved iron arrowheads are also known from the high mountains, some of which are even older than the sword. 

He added that it was impossible to know what happened to the owner of the sword, which spent more than 1,000 years lying in the snow.

There were no indications of a burial or that it was a sacrifice of some kind. It also appears unlikely that the sword was simply left behind for some reason and not recovered later

It also appears unlikely that the sword was simply left behind for some reason and not recovered later.

Mr Pilø believes no Viking would have left their most precious object unattended.

But he speculated they may have got lost, perhaps in a blizzard, and died on the mountain.

Extensive searches of the area, which was re-located using geographical data stored in photos taken by the two hunters who uncovered the find, were undertaken by members of the Secrets of the Ice team from the local council

The location istelf is in a rock strewn area with traces of permafrost movement.

Mr Åmbakk told the Secrets of the Ice project volunteers that the sword was lying with the hilt down between the stones with half of the blade sticking out.

He had seen the metal object blade protruding and pulled it out, only then realising he had found a sword.

Good read  40odd years ago a local man found a sword in one of the Welsh Rivers at the time got paid a lot of money after try and find out the story I didn't see the Sword at the time it was in the local papers ?

WOW !..Neil,what a fantastic find and an even more intriguing story,it certainly makes a great read...thank you so very much for posting...👍

So that's what happened to Excalibur  ::)

Fantastic discovery. I'm amazed at the condition of the iron. It must have been very pure to have lasted so long.

Thanks for posting Neil.

Did you feel its power to change the future? :D :D

Thank you for a good read on a great find👍