A metal detector led to a ‘first of its kind’ ancient discovery in the Netherlands.
The find turned out to be one 10th century Viking sword fragment, The Fries Museum and the Fryske Akademy announced this in a press release.
On May 3, 2024, Sander Visser explored agricultural land near Witmarsum, the Netherlands, with his metal detector.
An age-old discovery was unveiled in the Netherlands last spring. The 10th-century Viking sword fragment was found by a metal detector and is now undergoing further examination. (Photo by Allison James)
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As he searched the country, something caused his metal detector to sound.
After digging just under eight inches into the ground, Visser was met an ancient object that was immediately recognizable to him as part of a pommel.
A distinctive feature of the pommel that made it recognizable was the decoration displayed on it.
At each end were wild boar heads, which symbolized strength and courage in Viking culture, and were also associated with battle and protection, the news release said.
Sander Visser made his discovery on May 3, 2024. His metal detector led him to the fragment of the Viking sword. (Photos by Jacob van Essen, Hoge Noorden)
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This ancient discovery serves as a strong piece of evidence supporting the role that modern-day Fryslân had in connecting Viking networks, the press release said.
“This special find shows that there is still a lot to discover about the Viking Age in Frisia, an area larger than current Fryslân, about which we have learned a lot through research in recent years,” says Dr. Nelleke IJssennagger-van der Pluijm, director of the Fryske Akademy and expert in the field of Frisia and the Viking world, according to the press release. “Because this beautiful pommel hat is the first of its kind found in the Netherlands, it enriches our understanding of the contacts between Frisia and the Viking world in Scandinavia and the British Isles and adds a new dimension to our historical knowledge.”
The significant discovery is just the beginning of a long road of research to learn more about the history behind the Viking artifact.
The Fries Museum and the Fryske Akademy are working together in their research into this artifact, and more insight will be published by the end of 2025, according to the press release.
The study of this ancient discovery has only just begun. More insights are expected to be released by the end of 2025. (Photos by Jacob van Essen, Hoge Noorden)
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“By combining our areas of expertise, we can study this find from different perspectives, namely from the Frisian context, the Viking world and from sword traditions,” says Dr. Diana Spiekhout, curator of Middle Ages and Mountain Culture at the Fries Museum, said the press release.
Discoveries made using a metal detector have surfaced all over the world.
In late 2023, a group called the Teignbridge History Finders discovered one treasure of 21 ancient coins that they called the Okey Hoard in Devon, England.
In September 2019, an archaeologist named George Ridgway collected more than 680 old gold and silver coins with his metal detector in Suffolk.
