The Viking World: A History in ObjectsMain MenuGallery viewA galleryTag Cloudtag cloud pageThemesA path of thematic categoriesAuthor IndexExplore the collection by authorWorks CitedReferencesAdam Bigelow3afa9c7ecebf516bba6609664b1b12f79c54bf77Caitlin Donahue61b7e986e7c71d400e5c803912ed83c0cf65252fCaroline Harvey1783f21a5882b5b4d3d0b6c174d058052a5ff7eaEdward Hershewee701ef220480b51ca728fc9c719bc094cf813655Martin Hoffmana1fd203afd9a84ee8db567e188cf6ed1d269386eTyler Hruby23493f763b312110686cfafc62578fd0ab5f3833Brittany N. Johnsonc1c1763339f8fa953e3c907c6bb8a3bad0c28b2cCarlos Lua Pineda0a28cc23b0aa00b4f24a9e205aeb57fbdb07ff01Moira McConnell710633400590ea38533ea3412c01fc5056288180Clara McCurdy9aec76477d0b55f9c685c47330d6786ec98182e1Elise McIlhaneyef48481634ff342c8b43c9d56f678b2d3562fb69Cameron Meikle669a5682bfbfd603130a26e25628f24eb07e6295Alexander Christopher Newkirk019c2f5b38c043507251d1789e2fdf47e61c3b7fBenja Reilly816c23aa0d444213fb2d1ef33555a15617e08228Oliver Statenc625ae8c3926f5e1a4268bc91d6a6f4cdb1e7fb6Liam Sullivanaa3a1dccb90c7fe4646b61c4af594abbb0c5574aRead Wilder31bf4715220144a665996f2e6cae80a1a8611eadAliza Yazdanicd49f227d88c72331226ddf574bf56c37308cd10Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707dea
1media/PKqlln.JPG2017-05-22T00:39:17-07:00Sword3object pageplain2017-09-21T17:13:51-07:00This iron sword was recovered in Flintshire, Wales and has been identified as Norse craftsmanship. Smelted sometime between 800 and 999 AD, only about half of the blade remains; perhaps the weapon was discarded when it was broken. Neither the Norse nor the English were successful in conquering the Welsh over land, guarded by the naturally mountainous terrain, until the British completed their political domination of the area centuries later. However, coastal areas, like Flintshire, were still easy targets for vikings, which may explain the location of this find.
The blade itself is categorized as a “Petersen type L,” which described the make of the hilt.[1] The type L swords are distinguished by a swept guard and pommel which point in opposing directions. Given the other examples of type L blades, this specimen is likely missing a decorative pommel piece. If it had been finely enough crafted, it may have been an item worth stealing. The oblong grip also shows a certain ingenuity in the part of the craftsman, since it would make the weapon easier to hold and handle. Although the Norse were primarily known for their technological advances in seafaring, they undoubtedly had to be on the cutting edge of weaponry design in order to press their advantages. Nevertheless, iron blades would soon be replaced by steel throughout Europe towards the end of the tenth century. Steel was stronger, lighter, and more resistant to the corrosion which is easy to see in the object above. The first steel swords to appear broadly in Europe were the Frankish Ulfberht swords, of which some 170 remain.[2]
While the Norse were not the only adept seafarers, the effects of their travel were felt far and wide during the Medieval era. While the broken sword could have been a result of battle between the Norse and Welsh, it may also have been an item that given away in a trade deal. Especially once the Norse realized they would not have been able to conquer the Welsh, they may have decided that the enemy of their enemies in Britain could be useful friends.
