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Jim McDougall · 9th October 2018, 03:52 PM

With these kinds of sword finds, I always hope for further discussion as to better classification and period to join with the sound provenance of its location of discovery. The speculations as to how it came to be in this location where it has obviously remained for over a thousand years might become a bit more plausible using such information.

The news feed on this discovery is collectively vapid, with the only descriptive comments vaguely referring to a museum officials speculation of age of the weapon.

After seeing the assessment here added by Lee, who knows these weapons better than most anyone else, limiting comment to what has been suggested in most of the media except for noting the proper period of the sword....I wanted to see if more could be determined.

I looked into his book, "Swords of the Viking Age" (2002) and in doing so realized just how similar all the swords of these periods looked alike with virtually only nuanced differences. With a sword encrusted in its scabbard and of such age it is unlikely to have the factors often used to better determine the classifying details needed for more accurate assessment.

In the book, actually most of the examples I looked at were of the 9th century and remarkably similar is the hilt and guard, the only viable points of reference at this point and from photos. With example WK-24 (p.56) which is noted from Ireland, 9th century, and referenced as Petersen Type H (Wheeler type II) ....in looking further other examples, also of 9th c. are listed as from France, Denmark and Iceland.
Clearly the Frankish sword producers were busily supplying swords widely or the standardization of the forms were closely integrated even to other makers and into the 9th century, with this example (from the Swedish lake) possibly somewhat earlier.

It will be interesting to see if conservation is carried out at the museum noted, and if they might add more detail in the future.

Regarding its deposit in the lake in the first place, since it was in its scabbard it seems unlikely from a battle situation. If the brooch found nearby is indeed collateral, it may be a funerary situation.

9th October 2018, 03:52 PM	#8
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,748	With these kinds of sword finds, I always hope for further discussion as to better classification and period to join with the sound provenance of its location of discovery. The speculations as to how it came to be in this location where it has obviously remained for over a thousand years might become a bit more plausible using such information. The news feed on this discovery is collectively vapid, with the only descriptive comments vaguely referring to a museum officials speculation of age of the weapon. After seeing the assessment here added by Lee, who knows these weapons better than most anyone else, limiting comment to what has been suggested in most of the media except for noting the proper period of the sword....I wanted to see if more could be determined. I looked into his book, "Swords of the Viking Age" (2002) and in doing so realized just how similar all the swords of these periods looked alike with virtually only nuanced differences. With a sword encrusted in its scabbard and of such age it is unlikely to have the factors often used to better determine the classifying details needed for more accurate assessment. In the book, actually most of the examples I looked at were of the 9th century and remarkably similar is the hilt and guard, the only viable points of reference at this point and from photos. With example WK-24 (p.56) which is noted from Ireland, 9th century, and referenced as Petersen Type H (Wheeler type II) ....in looking further other examples, also of 9th c. are listed as from France, Denmark and Iceland. Clearly the Frankish sword producers were busily supplying swords widely or the standardization of the forms were closely integrated even to other makers and into the 9th century, with this example (from the Swedish lake) possibly somewhat earlier. It will be interesting to see if conservation is carried out at the museum noted, and if they might add more detail in the future. Regarding its deposit in the lake in the first place, since it was in its scabbard it seems unlikely from a battle situation. If the brooch found nearby is indeed collateral, it may be a funerary situation.