A Viking Age burial with animal bones and two swords that appear to have functioned as grave markers was found by archaeologists in Sweden.
The moment a Viking sword was excavated from a burial mound near Köping, Sweden. © Arkeologerna Statens historiska museer
The Vikings are renowned for their mastery of the sword and their prowess in combat. Though we rarely have the opportunity to view these weapons up close, it's simple to picture them using them in savage combat. Archaeologists in central Sweden made a remarkable find in 2022 when they unearthed two Viking swords that had been buried for more than 1,200 years.
These ancient weapons provide a fascinating look into the lives of the people who lived in this area hundreds of years ago and are a tribute to the artistry and ability of the Vikings. The find was located in a sizable burial field west of Köpin Västmanland, Sweden, containing about 100 tombs that date to the Late Iron Age, between 600 and 1,000 AD.
The reason this site was so well-preserved was described by archaeologist Anton Seiler from Sweden's State Historical Museums. He asserts that because the Viking Age graves in the area are frequently found on ridges, agricultural development in succeeding centuries has not affected them.
Numerous Viking Age graves in the area contain weapons and horse equipment, according to earlier discoveries. This presumably reveals a localized network of armed individuals, to protect things like trade routes and farm output.
The Viking sword held by one of the archeologists. © Arkeologerna Statens historiska museer
Despite hundreds of graves were unearthed between the 19th and 21st centuries, only about 20 Viking Age graves with swords from Västmanland are known. This demonstrates unequivocally how uncommon these specific burials containing swords from Viby/Norrtuna are.
In the center of the burial rooms, the swords were erect. It was challenging to determine their exact length because they both broke when put into the ground. They were made of sturdy iron and were around 3 feet long. Additionally, the weapons had undergone more than a thousand years of deterioration.
For the purpose of constructing and enlarging a roadway between two cities, the excavation had been going on for more than two years. All grave objects discovered were either burned or fragmented because cremation was the standard method of disposition during the time in question. The burials also had many kilograms of burned human and animal bones in addition to swords. Bones from at least horses, dogs, and birds (specimens), though it's difficult to say without appropriate osteological analysis, were discovered in the tombs.
A whalebone game piece, clay jars, iron rivets and nails, silver posament knots—which would have been worn with clothing—and bear claws were among the other artifacts found at the site. The artefacts and other discoveries, in the researchers' opinion, can stand in for several things. They might consist of the deceased's personal things, burial ceremonial objects, gifts from family members, or goods required for the afterlife, for instance.
Scientists analyzed the remains of the grave's occupants to ascertain their age, gender, and whether more than one person had been interred in the same grave. Although the presence of the swords suggests that men were buried in these sites, or that the owners were male warriors, we cannot be certain of this.
Swords may have been buried with children to indicate they belonged to a notable family, and female fighters during the Viking Age have received a lot of attention in recent years.
Photo of one of the ancient swords at the excavation site. They were found in a large burial field dating back to the Late Iron Age. © Arkeologerna Statens historiska museer
The researchers added that the swords might also represent a financial commitment from the farm as a whole or a symbolic effort by a group of relatives to establish power structures nearby.
After being unearthed, the weapons were submitted for conservation. Researchers will be able to identify the exact length and shape of the swords after conservation when the fragments are put back together. Wear and any potential battle damage will also be obvious after conservation.
These swords' discovery can give us important new information about the more than a thousand-year-old lives of our ancestors. Along with the cultural and social customs of the people who used these swords, we may learn about the technological developments of the era.
It's a great chance for historians and archaeologists to research the past and learn more about it, and we're excited to see what new discoveries are uncovered in the future.
