Viking sword found in Norway during construction

[Mark]

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/15197

[Rick Priestley]

Interesting that there were preserved organic elements - possibly indicative of water-logged - probably oxygen free clay sub-soil. It is amazing what can preserve sometimes and what doesn't. It's a pity that a lot of these organic elements were often lost years ago - and even now really. I remember exposing water-logged timbers (c100BC as it turned about though we didn't know that at the time) that looked as fresh as modern wood - adze marks - everything - but within a very short time the surface would blacken - almost before your eyes as I remember! That might speak more of my memory than reality though:)

Rick

[Dave Beatty]

New details on this have emerged -

http://www.cnet.com/news/a-breathtaking-sword-from-the-last-days-of-the-vikings/

Theory is that it is from the grave either of one Bjor (based upon a rune stone found nearby) who went with Canute to invade England in 1013-1016 or of Bjor's father, Arnstein who erected the stone.

The sword and a bronze-shafted battle axe also found in the grave are now on display in the Museum of Cultural History in Norway - http://www.khm.uio.no/english/visit-us/historical-museum/

There are rather unique Christian symbols on the sword hilt which, when coupled with a phrase on the runestone "God is one" leads me to think that Arnstein and perhaps Bjor were some of the first Viking Christian converts.