On its own , an ancient Viking steel of late discovered in central Norway depend typical for the time geological period . But the way it was forget could reveal selective information about its owner . AsGizmodoreports , the weapon was unearthed from the left side of a grave , intimate it was wield by a left - handed Viking .
Archaeologists from Norwegian University of Science and Technology ( NTNU ) uncover the artefact near the village of Vinjeøra in Norway . The arena was the site of a Viking farm during the 9th and 10th centuries , and it ’s being excavated to make room for the expansion of highway E39 . In accession to its agricultural account , the nation was also used as a sepulture site .
The sword was one of Felis serval artillery inter in a ring ditch surround the burial mound of a Viking warrior . This configuration indicates that the buried Viking was someone important . His grave accent overlap those of two other people . It ’s unclear why the bodies were buried so airless , butarchaeologistssay they were likely the Viking ’s congenator , and the arrangement symbolizes the importance of transmissible human relationship in the physical and phantasmal realms .
NTNU archeologist Astrid Kvisethdescribedthe fresh uncovered sword as surprisingly great . It was discovered on the left side of the grave accent , which is unusual for Viking burials . usually , Viking are buried with their weapon at their right hand , even though they sheathed their sword on their left side to make it easier to access during battle . The reversed form possibly signified that Vikings viewed the afterlife as a " mirror mental image " of sprightliness on Earth . Because the Viking grave find oneself near Vinjeøra was found with the sword on his left over side , he was belike left - handed .
The hefty sword was discover heavily corroded , so any details that could give away more information about its origins are hidden . NTNU researchers have brought it to a conservation science lab where it will be further analyze using an X - electron beam machine .
[ h / tGizmodo ]
