Hiker finds 1,200-year-old Viking sword in Norway

Archaeologists are amazed at the sword's condition

The sword is 77cm long (Hordaland County)

A hiker has found a 1,200-year-old Viking sword while enjoying a short fishing trip in Norway.

Walker Gøran Olsen apparently sat down to rest on the border of Telemark in Haukeli, central southern Norway, when he discovered the ancient sword.

It was found in such good condition, archaeologists have suggested if the sword’s grip was replaced and the metal polished it could still be used today.

The sword is 77cm long, which indicates it was forged around 750-800AD.

“The sword was found in very good condition. It is very special to get into a sword that is merely lacking its grip,” Jostein Aksdal, an archaeologist with Hordaland County who examined the find, told the local.no.

He plans to lead a dig in the area in the coming spring, hopefully to discover more unfound artefacts. “If we find several objects, or a tomb, perhaps we can find the story behind the sword.”

Although a common sword in Western Norway during that period, Mr Askdal said the sword was a “costly weapon” and likely to have been used to “show power”.

It will now be sent to The University Museum of Bergen.