A hiker stumbled upon a millennium-old Viking sword

[Jesus Malverde]

Gøran Olsen had taken a break from his hike in Norway's Haukeli region when he noticed something odd beneath the rocks.

It was a sword. And not just any sword, but a Viking sword estimated to be 1,265 years old and in remarkably good condition, the Hordaland County Council announced this week.

"It's quite unusual to find remnants from the Viking age that are so well-preserved," County Conservator Per Morten Ekerhovd told CNN. "[The sword] might be used today if you sharpened the edge."

Indeed, such a find is not common, according to archaeologist Jostein Aksdal. "It is very special to get ... a sword that is merely lacking its grip,” he told the Local.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/10/23/a-hiker-stumbled-upon-a-millennium-old-viking-sword/

[petronius]

1. I was glad to realize that "stumbled upon" was just a figure of speech

in this case...

Very cool find!

[rocktivity]

2. Good thing the hiker was sharp enough

to realize he'd come upon something valuable...if you get my point...


rocktivity

[pinboy3niner]

4. He's probably still scabbered from the tailgate party

[pinboy3niner]

6. Nice thrust!

[appal_jack]

8. A riposte that cuts both ways! nt

[pinboy3niner]

7. Meh. Now if he found a new Viking sword, that would be news.

Though I'll admit it's steel not a bad find.

[kentauros]

17. New swords

only come from participating Ladies of the Lake. Although, you can return it for later retrieval:

[kentauros]

21. Dennis doesn't have anything with which to "buy" Excalibur.

All he can offer in exchange is gathered-filth

[Fumesucker]

9. "This sword is an amazing find" said Tom sharply

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Swifty

[pinboy3niner]

11. I think we get the point, said pinboy with a penetrating look

[Fumesucker]

12. That's some cutting edge punsterism

[pinboy3niner]

14. I just took a stab in the dark

[Fumesucker]

16. Sounds like a stick-y situation

[pinboy3niner]

18. I come to parry Caesar, not to praise him

[Fumesucker]

19. Curses, foiled again

[Snobblevitch]

10. Is it an unregistered sword?

Will he be prosecuted for possessing a weapon such as this?

[pinboy3niner]

22. He's a responsible sword owner and didn't really hurt anybody

[Warren DeMontague]

28. "IT BEGAN WITH A BLOODY S, TREBEK!"

[trusty elf]

23. Get thee all to the punitentiary !

[img][/img]

[pinboy3niner]

24. !!!

You have mad skills!

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

25. Why is the 'w' silent?

Maybe it should be spelled "sord"?

[pinboy3niner]

26. Because it needs some points. Duh!

[Recursion]

38. It's from West Saxon "swyrd"

which is from proto-Germanic *swerdam; the PIE root is *swer, "cut or pierce".

Oddly enough "answer" is a relative of "sword"; it means "to cut on" what was asked.

We no longer pronounce the "w" because of the Great Vowel Shift. In the 1200's or so it was pronounced something like "sue-ahrd".

[pinboy3niner]

27. Yeah, so what's your point?

Oh, wait...

[Kalidurga]

29. I'm not very good at these kinds of games but I will take a jab at it anyway...

It's a good thing that even though the sword has no grip that hiker could get a handle on the situation and retrieve the sword from the rock um stone?

[pinboy3niner]

30. Not bad for a start, it just takes a little practice. Wax on, whacks off.

Oh, wait...that may actually cut into your training.

[Kalidurga]

32. That's okay I think I am going to feint I have had a long day.

[pinboy3niner]

33. I understand. Some of us need to retire early, being over the hilt.

[Kalidurga]

34. Yes age brings wisdom but it's a double edge sword

a rapier wit isn't much use when it becomes harder to pivot the convo.

[pinboy3niner]

35. I learned all my pivoting skills from Danny Kaye

He's been hypnotized into believing he's a great swordsman. A finger snap returns him to his normal self..

The Court Jester
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Court_Jester

[Ghost in the Machine]

31. I wonder if its original owner made it to Valhalla, led by the Valkyries to aid Odin? n/t

[pinboy3niner]

36. I FEEL millennium-old

But I take comfort in the knowledge that after I'm gone, some day some future archaeologist will report my Pet Rock as a major find. If I were not in oblivion I might get a chuckle out of that.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

37. Meh, it's not even haft a sword. Where's the rust of it? nt

[Lochloosa]

39. This thread is dull...

You would think someone with a rapier wit would show up to liven it up...

[hobbit709]

40. Was it an Ulfbehrt?