An 8-year-old girl discovered a remarkably preserved Iron Age sword in a Swedish lake during a 2018 drought, revealing a rare artifact from the 5th or 6th century.
Sword found in dried lakebed
In July 2018, a sword from the Iron Age was discovered in Lake Vidöstern, southern Sweden, when a drought caused the water level to drop significantly. Child discovers ancient weapon
An eight-year-old girl named Saga Vanecek found the sword while helping her family place a float in the lake. She felt an object under her feet and pulled it out by the handle, revealing a pointed end. Family alerts authorities
Saga’s father initially thought the object was a stick, but a neighbor with an interest in history suggested it might be an ancient weapon. The family, who had moved to Sweden from the United States in 2017, contacted local officials. Expert analysis confirms rarity
Archaeologist Annie Rosén examined the sword and noted that its wooden scabbard, lined with leather, had survived remarkably well. The sword, measuring 85 centimeters, is considered exceptionally well-preserved for its time. Dating places sword in Iron Age
The sword was dated to the 5th or 6th century, placing it in the Iron Age, nearly two to three hundred years before the start of the Viking Age in the late 8th century.
