Thousand-year-old Viking sword found in perfect condition at the bottom of the river

The archaeological find became unique for Poland

The Viking sword was found during dredging work carried out on the Vistula River. The discovery was made when workers were removing silt and noticed an oblong metal object among the mud.

Polish archaeologists consider the discovery of an ancient sword at the bottom of the Vistula a “national sensation.” The discovery was made during work carried out on the river flowing through the city of Wloclawek.

It is known that only eight other such swords with the inscription Ulfberht exist in Poland, and only 170 in the rest of Europe. Historians believe that the name “Ulfberht” inscribed in runes is the mark of a master, but this is one version. The inscription was discovered after X-raying the object, and Sambor Gawiński from the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Department of Nature Conservation said this dates the sword to before 950 AD.

The publications Ośrodek Sportu and Rekreacji Włocławek were the first to report the news, writing on their social networks: “During work at the marina, an object was excavated that has a great chance of receiving a unique status.”

Sambor Gawiński emphasized the importance of the find, noting: “This is an extremely valuable find. We know that these so-called Ulfbert swords were made somewhere in Central Europe, but we don’t know exactly where.”

This type of weapon was a transitional “link” between the Viking sword and the knightly sword of the high Middle Ages. The find has now been delivered to Toruń, where it was handed over to researchers from Nicolaus Copernicus University.

Experts said that the swords were made using very specific methods using carbon steel. The amount of this kind of metal was strictly defined, which made the sword very durable and flexible. According to scientists, its durability and combat value depended on this.

“More importantly, after lying in the mud for over a thousand years, the sword was preserved in excellent condition,” university officials said. The excellent condition of the sword, valued at more than 100 thousand Polish zlotys, will probably help the historian.

It is not yet clear how he ended up in Wloclawek. But due to the fact that more than 40 identical swords were found in Norway, Polish scientists concluded that the weapons discovered in the country belonged to a Viking. In addition, experts suggested that the sword could simply have been purchased by a local resident as part of a trade deal.

“Several theories have been published, and so far all options are acceptable, but we need to wait for the results of more detailed studies,” admits Gawinski.