Remarkable Medieval Sword Pulled from Dutch River

Archaeology Magazine ^ | June 17, 2025 | editors / unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

Workers recovered a remarkable medieval sword during dredging of the Korte Linschoten River near Montfoort. According to a La Brújula Verde report, the three-foot-long double-edged blade dates to between a.d. 1050 and 1150. This was a time when the bishop of Utrecht held power in the region, but the counts of Holland and Flanders were growing increasingly more influential. Besides its exceptionally well-preserved condition, the weapon is noteworthy because of a pair of intricate designs etched into its surface. One side features a "sun wheel," a circular design divided by a cross that was a sacred symbol in medieval Europe and commonly used in the consecration of churches. The other side is decorated with a geometric pattern consisting of five interlaced squares with a circle. Scholars refer to this emblem as the "endless knot," a design that was popular in Viking and Germanic cultures and signified unbreakable strength, friendship, and loyalty. Experts who examined the blade did not notice any indications that the sword had been covered by a scabbard at any time. They suggest that the weapon was deliberately thrown into the river as an offering or as a part of some ritual. For more on the archaeology of medieval Holland, go to "Letter from Leiden: Of Cesspits and Sewers."

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TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: godsgravesglyphs; middleages; netherlands

[SunkenCiv]

"Endless knot" symbol on the sword's blade

Landgoed Linschoten

[SunkenCiv]

[Salamander]

/moistened bint?

[TheThirdRuffian]

Ah, yes. The “forever knot” from the Kingdom of Purina. Good folk. Loved dogs.

Strange the way they selected kings, though. A bloke would come along and some watery tart would toss a sword at her choice. Strange women, lying in ponds, distributing swords is no basis for a system of government, in my opinion.

Anyway, wonder if the worker who pulled this out is now king.

[rxsid]

Really cool...

[WeaslesRippedMyFlesh]

did blood of the past preserve it?

[NonValueAdded]

“listen, strange women lyin’ in ponds distributin’ swords is no basis for a system of government.”

[SunkenCiv]

:^)

“A newt?”

“I got better.”

[SunkenCiv]

:^)

[pierrem15]

The wide hilt and tapered tip suggest it was made closer to the 12th century date, far too late for a pagan offering, although it’s quite possible certain pagan rituals like throwing swords into rivers persisted dressed up as a saint’s celebration, etc., for a long time.

[SunkenCiv]

Thx.

[Tell It Right]

Thanks for posting, SunkenCiv, and thanks for the history lesson TheThirdRuffian.

[SunkenCiv]

My pleasure.

[teeman8r]

in before the python refer,er nevermind

[pierrem15]

Speaking of long running rituals: look at the fancy harnesses on the horses they use at Oktoberfest in Munich. The designs closely match those from the bronze age, like the solar discs.

[telescope115]

The Movie Excaliber, when Perceval throws the sword across the water and the Lady of the Lake catches it and draws it under the water- that scene gives me chills every time I see it.

[TheThirdRuffian]

Learned everything I know from Philomena Cunk.

(Best faux “history” documentaries on Earth. Netflix. “Cunk on [Topic]”

[castlebrew]

IYKYK...

;)

[Red Badger]

A little Ospho and it’ll be good as new!..............

[Hoosier-Daddy]

So... losing your weapons in a boat accident has precedent...