Exceptionally Well-Preserved Anglo-Saxon Sword Found in UK

ARTnews ^ | December 27, 2024 | George Nelson

[nickcarraway]

Exceptionally Well-Preserved Anglo-Saxon Sword Found in UK

Archaeologists in rural Kent, UK, have unearthed a “really incredible” 6th-century sword from an Anglo-Saxon cemetery near Canterbury. Several other striking objects have also been found at the same site.

It is exceptionally well preserved; the silver-and-gilt hilt has a finely crafted decorated pattern, and the blade is embossed with runic script. Parts of the weapon’s leather-and-wood scabbard – and its beaver fur lining – have also survived. A ring is attached to its pommel, which archaeologists believe might symbolize an oath to a king.

The weapon’s condition is so impressive that it is being compared to the famously well-preserved Anglo-Saxon sword that was discovered at Sutton Hoo in the English county of Suffolk in 1939.

The exact location of the recent discovery has not been disclosed because further excavations are planned. So far, 12 burials have been excavated and it’s thought 200 more exist in the area, dating from the sixth to fifth centuries.

“We’re keeping the name of the site under wraps. It’s a very rich cemetery. It would be a real tragedy if it became well known before we’ve excavated it,” Duncan Sayer, the lead archaeologist and professor of archaeology at the University of Central Lancashire, told the Guardian.

He said the sword is “really incredible, in the top echelons of swords, an elite object in every way, which is wonderful. It rivals the swords from Dover and from Sutton Hoo.”

A golden pendant inscribed with a serpent or dragon was also found alongside the weapon. Archaeologists say such pendants would have belonged to women with lofty statuses.

The discoveries will be included in a forthcoming BBC six-part series called “Digging for Britain.” “I’ve never seen one that’s so beautifully preserved,” professor Alice Roberts, an academic who presents the show, told the Guardian. “I’ve never seen one that’s so beautifully preserved. It’s an extraordinary Anglo-Saxon cemetery, with really beautifully furnished graves, a lot of weapon burials where you find things like iron spear-points and seaxes, which are Anglo-Saxon knives – and then there’s this astonishing sword.”

[mabarker1]

Demonratcommieblmantifaterrorscumfeminazipedophilegoatrapers can go directly to }{€££ ?

[Telepathic Intruder]

I was at some sort of Farmer’s Market in Phoenix not long ago. Someone was selling what she claimed were ancient Roman coins, for not that much either. I didn’t buy one because lacking the expertise, I couldn’t verify the authenticity myself. But Amazing if true that Roman coins can be bought by ordinary bumkins.

[Ciaphas Cain]

Some of the knives that my late father made over the years:

[Ciaphas Cain]

This was his specialty if it could be called that: entire knife made out of a railroad spike. He made dozens of these (along with knives made from horseshoes):

[SkyDancer]

It means “This sword belongs to XORVI (Zorvi -Welsh) ...\_(ツ)_/

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

Those are beautiful.

Your father had an amazing talent.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

That’s pretty rough. Definitely not the Shards of Narsil.

[Magnum44]

[Magnum44]

[SunkenCiv]

• Anglo-Saxons plagiarized a Roman coin -- and it's full of typos [12/01/2024]
• Historic city's original boundary excavated [10/15/2024]
• Woke History: Some Anglo-Saxon Warriors Were Trans, Claims Academic [02/07/2024]
• Enigmatic Anglo-Saxon ivory rings discovered in elite burials came from African elephants 4,000 miles away [07/15/2023]
• Face of 1,300-Year-Old Anglo-Saxon Teen Revealed [06/20/2023]
• St. Patrick Glad He Brought Christianity To The Anglo-Saxons So Their Descendants Could Get Plastered And Punch Each Other [03/18/2023]
• Discovery of Anglo Saxon burials of national significance [06/19/2022]
• Anglo-Saxon royals were largely vegetarian [05/01/2022]
• Widsith [Old English poem, fragment, in translation] [04/26/2022]
• Unique reconstruction of traditional Anglo-Saxon hall house officially opened at Butser Ancient Farm [04/09/2022]
• An ancient rock crystal jar reveals its full beauty -- but keeps some secrets [12/18/2021]
• Ancient Skulls Show Anglo-Saxon Identity Was More Cultural Than Genetic [08/30/2021]
• Why The Dark Ages Were Actually A Time Of Great Achievement | King Arthur's Britain [08/17/2021]
• Oulton burial site: Sutton Hoo-era Anglo-Saxon cemetery discovered [09/21/2020]
• Drop the term Anglo-Saxon as it is 'bound up with white supremacy', say academics [11/11/2019]
• Britain's equivalent to Tutankhamun found in Southend-on-Sea [05/09/2019]
• Anglo Saxon gold mount 'mystery' in Norfolk [02/16/2016]
• Thousand-year-old Anglo-Saxon recipe kills MRSA superbug [03/31/2015]
• Archaeology student discovers 'outstanding' Anglo-Saxon pendant worth L50K [03/04/2015]
• An Anglo-Saxon Tale: Lady Godiva [01/03/2015]
• Ancient coins worth more than £1 million found buried in lead bucket in farmer's field [01/02/2015]
• Sheperdswell metal detector Greg Sweetman finds valuable Anglo-Saxon artefacts [03/02/2014]
• Ancient graves hint at cultural shift to Anglo-Saxon Britain [02/17/2014]
• Archaeologists unearth section of an Anglo Saxon cross in Weardale [09/28/2013]
• Farming in Dark Age Britain [07/06/2012]
• Sky 'Crucifix' in Ancient Text May Be Mystery-Solving Supernova [07/01/2012]
• The Battle of Brunanburh -- The Great Debate [05/06/2012]
• Staffordshire Gold Hoard (More Saxon Treasure) [10/20/2011]
• Staffordshire Hoard 'to help rewrite history' [07/03/2011]
• Ancient boat discovered on Norfolk Broads [09/06/2010]
• Experts Awed by Anglo-Saxon Treasure [09/25/2009]
• Jobless Man Uncovers Gold Hoard with Metal Detector [09/25/2009]
• Huge Anglo-Saxon gold hoard found [09/24/2009]
• Iranian leaders will always believe Anglo-Saxons are plotting against them. [06/23/2009]
• The World We Know Is Ending(Mark Steyn) [10/24/2006]
• Rare find for metal detector(Anglo Saxon Misc. Treasures-UK) [08/22/2006]
• Cat's gravestone fetches £200,000 at Sotheby's [12/12/2004]
• Split Between English and Scots Older Than Thought [04/11/2004]
• Fabulous Finds As Saxon King's Tomb Is Unearthed [02/05/2004]
• Genetic Survey Reveals Hidden Celts Of England [12/06/2001]

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks nickcarraway. I'm glad it wasn't found by some pathologically self-centered greed-head.

[Ciaphas Cain]

He was really something. Knifemaking was his passion. He made more knives than could be counted and he was very gracious with them. If he decided someone needed a knife, he just went ahead and made one for him or her. After he passed it seemed like half the town was telling me about the knives he made them.

I tried to make one or two but I never had the knack for it. I could grind them really well though.

[EvilCapitalist]

I beat you to it. See post 3.

[Spacetrucker]

Very skilled work; something i also had an interest in bit never the time. The one at th3 10 o’clock position is quite unique - a gradual step from the spine rather than a typical angled step.

[Vendome]

I pulled that thing out of rock hoping to become king.

Nothing happened so I tossed it aside...

[Red Badger]

Was it stuck in a rock?.......

[Red Badger]

Roman coins are so common they are not all that valuable.......

[EvilCapitalist]

Nah. Some watery tart lying in a pond lobbed it at the finder.

[OldHarbor]

Looks ready for the EvapoRust

[HartleyMBaldwin]

My sister wanted her ashes scattered from a cliff along the Oregon coast. There was a strong wind blowing off the ocean on the day of the memorial service, and we were wondering how to scatter the ashes without having them blown back in our faces. Some people were paragliding off the cliff to the beach below, and we got one of them to carry my sister’s ashes well out from the cliff before releasing them. A very nice thing for the guy to do.