A Dozen Sunk Swords

Hello dear archaeology enthusiasts and sword fans,

During the archaeological excavations aimed at salvaging a Viking ship in 1979 and 1980, the remains of no fewer than twelve swords were recovered from the harbour silt in a small area of the Viking Age emporium of Hedeby. Since they were all still in their scabbards, loss during combat seems unlikely. The fact that these valuable weapons were never retrieved from the shallow water could be explained by a form of taboo, possibly linked to ritual depositions as offerings intended to appease the addressed deities, for example, before embarking on a sea voyage. The location of the depositions directly in front of the ship landings might indicate a publicly celebrated ritual, akin to the general assumption about the deposition of valuable objects in waters and graves.

Outstanding swords belong to a special group of artefacts that hold a prominent role in Old Norse literature as well as in ritual depositions in graves and wetlands in Early Medieval Scandinavia (and not only there), as evidenced by archaeology. In my book (which I created the title image for), I will also delve into the cultural significance of the sword.

For those who wish to read more on the topic now, I recommend an article by Julie Lund, which deals with these very objects and their special nature. Dr. Lund also explains why the sagas and skaldic verses can indeed be a valuable and reliable source for studying these particular aspects of the Viking Age.

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Bent and Burned

On the same subject, Hanne Lovise Aannestad has presented a study on ritually destroyed Viking swords from Norway. She illuminates the regional differences in burial rites and weapon destruction and approaches the phenomenon with the concept of the "charismatic object." You can read about what exactly this entails in her article.

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Prefer Video?

If you enjoy watching videos you can follow Dr. Aannestad on a tour through the depot of the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, where you can admire, among other things, bent swords, a round shield, and the original dragon head of the Oseberg ship.

So, that's it for today. Take care, and keep your blade well-honed.

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Yours,

Roland

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