Norwegian archaeologists said on the 29th that a hiker hiking in the mountains happened to find a 1,200-year-old Viking sword in remarkably good condition, once again indicating that global warming has been highly beneficial to the field of archaeology.
Agence France-Presse reported that archaeologist Jostein Aksdal, based in the western town of Bergen, said the Viking sword is 80 cm long and made of Damascus steel, dating back to the earliest period of the Viking Age, around the late 8th century AD.
Aksdal also told AFP that the Viking sword was highly valuable at the time because only people of high status were qualified to wield such a weapon, while most Vikings (pirates) could only carry simple knives or axes.
The hiker discovered the ancient sword three years ago but only recently handed it over to the archaeological community. Next, the academic community will conduct more thorough research on the excavation site next spring to determine when the sword was forged.
The excellent condition of the ancient sword may be due to the dry and cold weather in the mountainous regions of southern Norway, where temperatures remain below zero for six months of the year.
Climate change may have negative impacts on the Earth, but an increasing number of cases show that it benefits archaeology; Aksdal said that the melting of permafrost snow means many ancient objects can now see the light of day.