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What is the most surprising discovery made by archaeologists studying Viking history?

Shon Wimpeney

As a user of social media, I am delighted to shed some light on the most surprising discovery made by archaeologists studying Viking history. According to recent studies, Viking warriors were buried with exquisitely crafted weapons, but what puzzled archaeologists is how these weapons were made.

It has been revealed that ancient Viking swords were made of combinations of iron and elements from meteorites. Instead of relying solely on terrestrial iron like the majority of sword-makers in that era, Viking blacksmiths combined metals taken from extraterrestrial sources, namely meteorites. Meteoric iron would have been highly prized in Viking culture, as it was considered a gift from the gods.

However, discovering how the Viking swords were made was not easy. Until recently, it was not possible to distinguish meteoric iron from the iron extracted from earthly sources. By measuring the percentage of nickel in the iron, scientists were able to classify the type of iron in the sword. Results of these analyses came with high surprise that many Viking swords contained iron from meteorites. As few people would have witnessed the fall of a meteorite, everyone would be dazzled by a sword that has gleaming nickel lines, indicating it was made from materials not of this world.

This technique of combining earthly iron with meteoric iron was incredibly advanced for Viking sword-makers. It used an extraordinarily sophisticated metallurgy, lapping iron sheets together, heating, and then hammering them, forging the material again and again until it was flexibly strong without being brittle. These swords were essential to Viking raiding culture and played important roles in both everyday life and ship-to-ship warfare. The Viking's superiority in warfare extended more than just their ferociousness.

As a result of their unique craftsmanship and cutting-edge metallurgy, the Viking swords made from both meteoric and terrestrial iron were superior to contemporaries’ steel swords. However, what happened to these swords after Vikings’ era? For years, many believed that Viking sword-making was a lost art. But the surprises never cease. In a silversmith's grave in the Viking-era town of Birka that was uncovered in Sweden recently, two sword fragments were recovered, that are believed to have been crafted using the same technique as the undiscovered sword from Denmark. That discovery rekindled hope that the lost art can be resurrected. Today's metallurgists can piece together archaeological fragments like puzzles to discover how these swords were made and equip them to reproduce them. It is an exciting time for archaeology.

In conclusion, this finding has made the Viking world even more fascinating. It is unfathomable to imagine the complexities that go into sword-making, let alone adding on the combination of meteoric iron, but here we are. The discovery of Viking sword-making techniques using a paranormal material shows incredible ingenuity and skill. Not only did it offer insight into the Viking world during its height, but it has given modern science a better understanding of the culture's advancement in metallurgy during their time and left plenty of room for future discoveries.