#ancient sword

[blueiscoool]

Army Museum Worker Discovers Early Medieval Sword in Poland

The collection of the Army Museum in Białystok, Poland has been enriched after renovation with a unique relic of great historical value – an early medieval sword of the Viking type, dating from the 9th or 10th centuries. It was found by an employee of this institution while diving in the Supraśl River over two years ago.

This rare artifact, which was found by museum employee Szczepan Skibicki in 2022 while diving in the Supraśl River, is among only a handful of similar swords discovered in the country.

Skibicki stumbled upon the sword in a river bend where erosion had exposed a sand deposit. “At about 120cm [four feet] deep,” Skibicki recalled, as translated from Polish to English through Facebook, “I spotted an interesting object which turned out to be a sword! Then for the first and last time, I screamed for joy under the water!… Thanks to my education and work I knew how to secure it and which services to notify.”

He likened the discovery to winning the lottery, reflecting on the extraordinary luck involved in unearthing such a treasure.

The sword, which may have been linked by Baltic or Viking cultures, was forged in the late ninth or early tenth century, according to experts. Despite Poland’s lack of Viking activity, archeological evidence demonstrates that the Vikings were present at important administrative and commercial hubs during this time. The unique hilt of the weapon denotes its design, which is in keeping with Viking craftsmanship while also suggest potential Baltic community influences.

Dr. Ryszard Kazimierczak of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń highlighted the sword’s rarity and cultural significance: “The sword is unique due to its form, shape, and the degree of preservation of organic material visible on the hilt. This is incredibly rare for artifacts of this age.”

“We think there is a high probability that there was a fight by the river, a battle and the sword was in the water with its owner,” Kaźmierczak said, per the museum’s Facebook post.

The blade itself tells a story of conflict, bearing micro-cracks, scratches, and splinters likely resulting from combat. “The middle part shows how time and use have acted upon it,” explained Robert Sadowski, director of the Army Museum. “When these swords were used in battle, the middle part absorbed the most blows, leading to the wear and tear visible today.”

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education noted in its press release that before the sword could be transferred to the Army Museum it had to go through legal protocol overseen by the Provincial Conservator of Monument. Once it became the property of the Army Museum, the sword went into conservation involving specialists from the Institute of Archaeology of the Nicolaus Copernicus University.

By Leman Altuntaş.

[artistrichardhfay]

I like to draw swords. Over the years, I've drawn swords of various cultures and periods. Here's an ancient antenna-hilt bronze sword I drew several years ago.

[jasoncanty01]

German archaeologists are thrilled to have dug up a Bronze Age sword more than 3,000 years old which is extraordinarily well preserved.

The bronze sword with an octagonal hilt was found in a grave in the southern town of Nördlingen. It is thought to be from the late 14th Century BC.

Its condition is so good "it almost still shines", Bavaria's State Office for Monument Protection (BLfD) says. .... 3000 years old and in THAT good of shape.. Nah Man put that back.

[disparate-gm]

Source: https://en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/denmark/prehistoric-period-until-1050-ad/the-viking-age/weapons/swords/

[betweenthetimeandsound]

--prompt from @flashfictionfridayofficial

The sword cut me, not with the clean grace of a new blade, but with the jagged edges of an old one. Rusted, emerging from the earth with its awkward form, I rubbed my hand against the deadened metal, wondering if could work for battle.

Trying to keep the bleeding from accelerating, I tightened my grip around the hilt, feeling a certain comfort despite the jaggedness. The gold shone out in the fracturing sunlight, peeking behind an overcast sky ready to press down on what remained of us. But I only jostled for a moment.

"It's nice to see you again, old friend," I giggled to myself, knowing I wouldn't have noticed it a generation ago.

[pabloknives]

[memories-of-ancients]

Gilded and gold inlaid iron sword uncovered by archaeologists at the Filipovka Kurgans, Orenburg Oblast, Russia.

Sarmatian, 7th century BC

[hellenhighwater]

Hey just a quick note: you can use basically any guitar wall hanger to hold a sword instead. Just in case you need to put one on the wall somewhere

[stealingpotatoes]

Thinking about how each of TL4J got their lightsaber crystals and how each situation is unique to them, and then there's Din doing his best to get rid of the Darksaber and no one's taking it

i can think of one person who might wanna take it off his hands...

(commission info // tip jar!)

[illustratus]

[blueiscoool]

Detectorists Find 2,000-Year-Old Roman Sword

Metal detectorists from the INVENTUM Association have uncovered a 2000-year-old Roman sword in the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, Poland.

The discovery was made by Rafal Proszowski and Mariusz Lampa while searching for WW2 relics in the dense forests of the Polish Jurassic Highland. Upon reporting their find to local authorities, the sword was secured by a team from the Częstochowa Museum for further analysis and preservation.

According to experts, the sword is a spatha, a type of straight and long sword used by Celtic auxiliaries in the Roman army during the 1st century AD, gradually became a standard heavy weapon by Roman infantry in the 3rd century AD.

A modified version was also used by Roman cavalry, featuring a rounded tip to prevent accidental injury to the rider’s foot or horse.

The sword was found broken into three parts, suggesting it was deposited as part of a funerary offering, possibly as part of a Prezor Culture burial.

The Prezor Culture is an amalgam of a series of localised cultures often associated with the Vandals. In areas of Roman influence, high-status Prezor Culture burials are often accompanied with Roman imports, where the deceased was cremated and the ashes often placed in urns.

The culture’s decline in the late 5th century coincided with the Hun invasions. Other contributing factors may have included a social crisis triggered by the collapse of the Roman world and the disruption of trade networks with external societies.

In a public statement, the INVENTUM Association reported that the detectorists also discovered an axe and three perfectly preserved spurs from the late Middle Ages. These artefacts have also been sent to the Częstochowa Museum for further examination.

“This discovery sheds new light on the history of the region and confirms that Northern Jurassic still hides many secrets,” said the INVENTUM Association.

By Mark Milligan.

[oaths-sworn-in-blood]

The Long Walk

Vermis

[helsensm]

a bit late but- mk1 anniversary yaaay??

[disparate-gm]

Source: https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/octagonal-sword-from-bronze-age-burial-in-germany-is-so-well-preserved-it-shines

[hellenicgoddess]

Mycenaean daggers/swords, 16th - 14th century BC

National Archaeological Museum, Athens-Greece

[rienafoutre]