A remarkable medieval sword, dating back to 1050-1150 AD, was uncovered last year during dredging operations in the Korte Linschoten River, in the Dutch province of Utrecht. Exceptionally well-preserved, the weapon has since been donated to the National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden) in Leiden.

Experts who examined and cleaned the artifact found it to be a meter long, with a broad crossguard and a pommel shaped like a nut—design elements common in swords from the 11th and 12th centuries. The sword dates from a time when the Bishop of Utrecht ruled the area, coinciding with the emergence of the powerful Counts of Holland and Flanders.

What makes this find particularly striking are the engravings on the blade. One side features a “sun wheel,” a Christian symbol resembling a circle divided by a cross—frequently used in church rituals during the Medieval period, especially in recently converted regions. The other side bears a rare “endless knot” design—five interconnected squares enclosed in a circle—commonly associated with Viking and Norse culture. This symbol is believed to represent eternal strength, loyalty, and protection.

Weighing around 900 grams, the sword owes its excellent state of preservation to the oxygen-free clay in which it was buried. The museum carried out a detailed conservation process, including a ten-week desalination soak, thorough rinsing and drying, and a tannin treatment to stabilize the metal.

Interestingly, the sword shows no signs of ever having been stored in a scabbard. This suggests it may have been purposefully placed in the river as part of a ritual or symbolic offering—perhaps long before the castle or estate of Linschoten was established, during a time when the area was still largely marshland being reclaimed for settlement.

A representative from Montfoort’s local council reflected on the discovery in 2024, stating: “This sword tells the story of a time when symbolism and spirituality were deeply intertwined, and when a simple design could transcend centuries.”

Now known as the Linschoten Sword, the artifact is currently on public display in the museum’s New Acquisitions section and will remain there until September.