Posted on 02/08/2026 6:10:03 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Amateurs using metal detector located the tomb and after the initial major finds they contacted the archaeological authorities.
The well-preserved grave contained an uncharacteristically large 12th-century sword as well as what appeared to be a Viking-age blade that may have been part of a cremation ceremony.
The find was brought to light in a field in Hyvikkälä, Janakkala, which had showed signs of pre-historic settlement, by amateur metal detectorists After uncovering a few minor objects, the metal detector picked up a spear tip and an axe blade. After some digging, the group discovered a broken sword. At this point, the hobbyists broke off their work to alert the National Board of Antiquities (NBA).
(Excerpt) Read more at archaeology.wiki ...
The baltics were pagan lands and the destination of the northern crusaders
A Crusader? In Finland? I suppose he didn’t get very far!
he alone kept the muslims out for a very long while.
“But it’s next to the Baltics.”
Well, over the gulf, yes. But the Teutonic Knights and Livonian Swordbrothers never went there. It fell to the Swedes to fight there.
“The baltics were pagan lands and the destination of the northern crusaders”
But Finland was the destination of Swedish crusaders while Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were the destinations of German crusaders (and some Danes of course).
Just read Eric Christiansen’s classic The Northern Crusades (2nd edition) and you’ll see.
Someone else suggested he was possibly a Varangian, which may explain the viking sword.
Thank you
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