Grave of Early Crusader Unearthed in Finland

Archaeology Wiki ^ | November 18, 2013 | editors / unattributed

[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).

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TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: espoo; finland; godsgravesglyphs; gold; janakkala; metaldetecting; middleages; sword; swords

[SunkenCiv]

Archaeologist from the Finnish National Board of Antiquities (NBA) measuring the site.

Image: Simo Vanhatalo / Museovirasto

[SunkenCiv]

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[SunkenCiv]

Secrets of the Warrior Buried in the Frozen North
Medieval Dead | S2 E5 | Full Episode | 44:26
Forbidden Mysteries | 5.43K subscribers | 45,419 views | January 4, 2026

[SunkenCiv]

The weekly digest list of topics is up top.

[NFHale]

Awesome… and a little sad too…

He died far from home, never saw his loved ones again…

[twister881]

There once was a man from Glengozzle
Who discovered a remarkable fossil
He knew by the bend
And the wart at one end
‘Twas the peter of Saint Paul the Apostle

[SunkenCiv]

[also from 2013] Priceless medieval ring turns up in Espoo field

Image: Espoon kaupunginmuseo

[DIRTYSECRET]

Crusader/Finland. Musta got lost on the way to the Holy Land.

[fidelis]

The headline says he was a Crusader but the article only states only that he lived around “the Crusader era”. Without more evidence it’s entirely possible that he was not a Crusader, but maybe some other type of fighting man. In other words, the title is click bait. It would not elicit as many clicks if they had simply said they found the grave of a guy from long ago with swords.

[Windcatcher]

Are we sure he wasn’t returning to Finland after a Crusade?

[Mr. Blond]

May have been a Teutonic from the Northern Crusades.

[BradyLS]

I was thinking he may have been a Varangian Guard who returned home.

[BradyLS]

I think that more likely than my returning Varangian theory.

[fidelis]

May have been a Teutonic from the Northern Crusades.

That may well be, but my point was they didn't find (or do not mention if they found) evidence of him being a Crusader. Lots of other folks were at war with each other at that time in Europe without being Crusaders.

[Mr. Blond]

Ooh, that would explain the viking sword.