Viking Sword Found In Oxfordshire By Magnet Fisher

Magnet fisher Trevor Penny found this Viking sword dating from 850 AD - it's the oldest object ever discovered in Oxfordshire by magnet fishing.

Experts have confirmed that the sword pulled from the river at the end of last year (2023) is an "archaeologically rare" weapon.

Trevor Penny was searching for lost and discarded objects in the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire in November 2023 when he made the remarkable discovery.

His magnet had attracted a substantial relic from the past - a sword that, to his astonishment, has been confirmed as a Viking weapon dating back around 1,200 years to around 850 AD.

Initially obscured by years of corrosion and sediment, the sword's true identity was revealed through the concerted efforts of Penny and local archaeological experts.

When Penny lugged out the sword, he didn't immediately recognise what it was.

"I was on the side of the bridge and shouted to a friend on the other side of the bridge, 'What is this?'" Penny, who is a member of the Thame Magnet Fishing Facebook group, recalled in the message.

"He came running over shouting, 'It looks like a sword!'"

The magnet fisher then contacted the Oxfordshire county liaison officer responsible for recording archaeological finds made by the public, and took the sword to be examined by experts.

While magnet fishing can lead to significant discoveries, it is subject to legal restrictions and ethical considerations, particularly regarding the ownership of found objects.

The newly discovered Viking sword is in the care of Oxford museum services and may eventually be put on display, the Oxford mail reported.

The weapon dates to a period when the Vikings, who were originally pagans from Scandinavia, traveled to the British Isles to plunder, conquer and trade with the ruling Saxons.

The Vikings set foot on British soil in the 18th century, having raided a monastery on Linkisfarne, an island off Britain's northeast coast, in 793.

Similar raids in Britain occurred for several centuries and escalated after 835, when larger Viking fleets started arriving and fighting royal armies.

British kings gradually reconquered territory seized by the Vikings throughout the 10th century and unified what was a patchwork of kingdoms into a new realm called Englalond.

Viking incursions and periods of rule continued until the 11th century, but the Viking Age ended following the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066, with the defeat of the king of Norway, Harald III Sigurdsson, by the Saxons.

Viking Swords

Viking swords were not hastily constructed implements of war; they were meticulously crafted works of art, forged with skill and imbued with meaning.

Typically, these swords featured double-edged blades with a fuller - a groove running down the centre to reduce weight without compromising strength.

The hilts were adorned with intricate designs, often depicting scenes from Norse mythology or symbols of power and protection.

Crafted by skilled blacksmiths using a technique known as pattern welding, Viking swords were composed of multiple layers of iron and steel, folded and hammered together to create a blade of exceptional resilience and sharpness.

The result was a weapon that could withstand the rigours of combat while retaining a keen edge, making it a formidable tool in the hands of a skilled warrior.

In the violent world of medieval Scandinavia, conflict was a constant reality, and the sword was the ultimate arbiter of power on the battlefield.

Viking swords were versatile weapons, capable of delivering devastating blows in close combat or executing precise thrusts with deadly accuracy.

Whether raiding coastal villages, defending homelands from invaders, or waging war against rival chieftains, these swords were the stalwart companions of Norse warriors, their gleaming blades reflecting both the sun's rays and the fierce determination of their wielders.

Wielding a finely crafted sword was a mark of status among Norse society, signifying a warrior's prowess in battle and his standing within the community.

Swords were often passed down through generations, cherished as heirlooms and imbued with the legacy of past deeds and heroic exploits.

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