Remains of a leather purse with several Islamic coins were found inside this shield boss. (Photo: Åge Hojem / NTNU Museum of Natural History and Archaeology)
In August 2014 a hobby archaeologist found a Viking Age sword with metal detector in a field in Skaun, just south of Trondheim in Central Norway. Now, archaeologists have examined the finding and have some exciting news about the owner.
Having examined the grave, archaeologists at the NTNU Museum of Natural History and Archaeology in Trondheim informs that it is dated to about the year 950 AD.
In addition to the sword, researchers have found the remains of a shield.
– We have not managed to find out who owned the sword, but we know that he was a well traveled man, archaeologist Ingrid Ystgaard told.
Radiographs show that there is an inscription on the sword blade that tells that it probably has been produced outside of Scandinavia.
Swords with inscriptions were not common and show that it was of very high quality, unless it was a copy.
Spain or Constantinople
Other evidence that the grave belongs to a man who had traveled widely was found in a leather purse hidden inside the shield boss: The purse contained several Islamic coins.
But where do the coins come from?
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The Viking sword in the Skaun grave with the shield boss placed right below. (Photo: Ragnar Vennatrø / NTNU Museum of Natural History and Archaeology)
Arabs (Moors) conquered Spain in the year 711 AD while Norwegian Vikings came to Spain in the 800s. They plundered, among other cities, Seville in the year 844 AD. Maybe the coins have been stolen in Spain?
Or has he got hold of them when he travelled eastwards following the Volga trade route?
The Vikings traveled all the way to Constantinople by rowing and sailing down the Russian rivers – and maybe the coins have been payment for slaves, furs or walrus ivory?
Sign of Combat
The archaeologists found several signs that the grave belonged to a Viking. In addition to that he was buried with his sword and shield at his side, the shield boss showed that the owner had been in combat.
– The shield boss has a clear cut mark by an ax or a sword. If he died in combat, we do not know, says Ystgaard.
But who was this man and what was he doing in Skaun? The answer the archaeologists are not able to give.
At least not yet.
Text by: Thor Lanesskog, ThorNews
thornews.com 
Reblogged this on First Night History.
Maybe he was a member from the Varangian Guard (Τάγμα των Βαράγγων) ???
The oera linda book tells of a struggle between two middle eastern peoples and after a war one of the groups fled to northern europe.
Islamic coins aint exactly mysterious find, it was like viking Euro-coins, very popular because of high silver content, and very common find in both Sweden and Denmark, a little more rare in Norway, but no sensation.
Someone may have just been to Gotland in trade business for excample.
No skeleton found?
It would have been cool to see a photo of the coins in any event. Perhaps in future, they will be shown, along with the Viking remains.
Lets hope we will see them one day!
Cool
Nice post and nice find!