During the process of excavating the yard to expand his home, a Norwegian man discovered a strange stone that “unlocked” an ancient, lavish tomb of a Viking warrior.
According to Live Science, a rusted iron sword helped scientists date the tomb to approximately 800-900 AD, placing it in the Viking Age in Northern Europe.
Anne and Oddbjørn Holum Heiland with their son at the archaeological site – (Photo: Joakim Wintervoll)
“We have a good record of the ‘fashion’ of sword hilts in Norway. Comparing it with other swords, we believe it dates back to the 9th or 10th century,” explained archaeologist Joakim Wintervoll, who works for the local government of Agder County in Norway.
This ancient tomb is significant not only because it is over 1,100 years old but also due to the numerous valuable artifacts buried with the Viking warrior as grave goods.
It is a true treasure trove; in addition to the sword, there was a spear designed for use on horseback, glass beads, a bronze brooch, and a gold-plated belt buckle.
The treasure tomb was unexpectedly discovered in June in the Setesdal district of Agder County, about 200 kilometers southwest of the capital Oslo.
A local resident, Oddbjørn Holum Heiland, was using an excavator to renovate his yard, where he planned to expand his home, according to Science Norway. After digging a little on a slope behind his house, he uncovered an elongated stone. Digging deeper, the hilt of the mentioned sword emerged.
Realizing that he might have uncovered an archaeological treasure, he stopped digging and contacted the local archaeological unit.
Archaeologists suspect that this ancient tomb is related to another ancient burial discovered in 1930 on a nearby farm. The burial method used for the warrior not only honored him but also served as a way for his descendants to assert ownership of the land.
The tomb was also carefully oriented along an East-West axis, aligned with the rising sun. Scientists are still researching to fully understand the significance of this ancient tomb, as well as what the artifacts might reveal about the Viking Age in Norway.
