1,000-year-old ancient sword discovered under the river, revealing shocking mystery
A 1,000-year-old sword discovered while dredging a river in the Netherlands has left archaeologists stunned by the incredible integrity of the artifact.
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•21/06/2025
In March 2024, workers dredging the Korte Linschoten River, west of Utrecht, Netherlands, accidentally discovered a sword about 1 meter long. The hilt has a nut shape typical of the 11th - 12th century. Photo: Ruben de Heer/ RMO. Research results by experts indicate that the sword dates back to around 1050 - 1150. Photo: Ruben de Heer/ RMO.
Experts say the sword was found in fairly good condition. They speculate that the weapon's preservation may have been due to the anaerobic (oxygen-poor) clay. Photo: Ruben de Heer/ RMO. Thanks to such environmental conditions, the sword has remained uncorroded for nearly 1,000 years. Photo: Ruben de Heer / Rijksmuseum van Oudheden.
The sword shows no signs of having been stored in a scabbard. Given the condition of the ancient weapon, experts speculate that it may have been intentionally thrown into the river as part of a ritual. Photo: Ruben de Heer / Rijksmuseum van Oudheden. The ritual may have been to sanctify the land or to honor a fallen warrior. Photo: Ruben de Heer / Rijksmuseum van Oudheden. According to La Brújula Verde, when the sword was thrown into the river, the area was still a wetland in the early stages of drainage and reclamation, and no castle or mansion had yet been built at Linschoten. Photo: Ruben de Heer / Rijksmuseum van Oudheden.
Such rituals were common in medieval Europe, where weapons were used not only in combat but also in religious ceremonies. Whether buried with warriors or offered to the gods, swords carried deep symbolic value. Photo: Ruben de Heer / Rijksmuseum van Oudheden. Readers are invited to watch the video : Revealing lost civilizations through archaeological remains.
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