How Did A Piece Of An ‘Epic’ Viking Sword End Up In The Netherlands?

Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com - For the first time ever, a fragment of a tenth-century Viking sword has been unearthed near the Frisian town of Witmarsum in the Netherlands. This pommel cap, which once adorned the hilt of a mighty sword, might have even been gilded.

It's an extraordinary find—the very first of its kind in the Netherlands—offering us an exciting glimpse into the vibrant intercultural networks of the Viking world and highlighting Frisia's pivotal role within them. The Fryske Akademy and Fries Museum are diving deeper into this incredible discovery with ongoing research, and it’s now proudly part of the museum’s collection.

The adventure began on 3 May 2024 when archaeology enthusiast Sander Visser from Lelystad made this astonishing discovery on a farm near Witmarsum. As his detector rang out with a high, clear sound, he eagerly started digging and uncovered this remarkable object buried less than 20 centimeters deep. Visser instantly recognized it as part of a pommel and was captivated by its distinctive decoration!

The discovery, adorned in the distinctive tenth-century 'Mammen style,' serves as an intriguing example of Viking craftsmanship. It features animal heads at both ends that resemble those of a wild boar, with the boars' upward curling mouths still distinctly visible. In Viking culture, wild boars were symbols of strength and courage and were linked to combat and protection. This finding in Friesland highlights the region's significant role as a connection within Viking networks.

Why Is The Viking Sword A Remarkable Discovery?

“This extraordinary find shows that there is still a lot to discover about the Viking Age in Frisia, an area larger than present-day Friesland, about which we have learned a lot through research in recent years. Because this beautiful pommel cap is the first of its kind to be found in the Netherlands, it enriches our understanding of the contacts between Frisia and the Viking world in Scandinavia and the British Isles and adds a new dimension to our historical knowledge,” Dr Nelleke IJssennagger-van der Pluijm, director of the Fryske Akademy and an expert on Frisia and the Viking world said in a press release.

Supported by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), Dr. Diana Spiekhout, curator of Middle Ages and Mound Culture at the Fries Museum, has been conducting an insightful study on swords from early medieval Frisia. This region encompassed the Dutch coastal areas, around Utrecht, and the German East Frisian coast.

During this era in northern and north-western Europe, swords transcended their role as mere weapons; they were imbued with human-like attributes and held significant symbolic value. These "epic" swords were renowned within elite circles, often passed down through generations with new owners, sometimes enhancing them with ornate decorations or replacing parts. Such practices have been documented in Frisia primarily up to the eighth century when later decorations became more standardized.

This is a piece of a tenth-century Viking sword discovered in Frisian soil. Credit: Fryske Academy

The recent discovery of a sword fragment prompts intriguing questions about its history. Was this luxurious pommel cap intentionally removed by a new owner seeking to personalize their weapon? Or was it part of a complete disassembly? Furthermore, how did it find its way to Friesland?

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The discovery marks the beginning of joint research by the Fryske Akademy and the Fries Museum into the fragment that focuses on questions such as these.

“By combining our areas of expertise, we can study this find from various angles, namely from the Frisian context, the Viking world, and from sword traditions,” said Diana Spiekhout. The results of this research are expected to be published by the end of 2025 and will include an examination of its relationship with other finds and the networks behind them.

Written by Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com Staff Writer