In Norway, a six-year-old schoolboy found a Viking sword while on a field trip

Six-year-old Henrik Refnes Mertvedt discovered a sword estimated to be about 1,300 years old during a school trip to the municipality of Gran. The object was sticking out of the ground in a field near the village of Brandu when the boy decided to pick it up to take a closer look. 

This was reported by the NRK broadcasting company.

Teachers and students immediately contacted local archaeologists to assess the find. Experts determined that it is a single-edged sword, sharpened on only one side and designed for chopping and cutting strikes. According to preliminary findings by researchers, the artifact dates back to the early Viking Age.

The find is currently under the supervision of experts for further study and conservation. Such discoveries in this region help historians better understand the daily life and weaponry of the ancient Scandinavians. Local authorities thanked the student for his vigilance and for taking the right steps after discovering the historical artifact.

Archaeologists also discovered a Viking-era burial site containing the remains of a shield and several graves during preliminary work for a house construction project in Oslo.

In Norway, thousands of Viking-era coins were accidentally discovered right in the middle of a field. This is likely part of a buried treasure that its owner never returned to claim. Archaeologists are calling the find one of the largest in the country’s history.