Henrik, a six-year-old from Fredheim School discovered a roughly 1,300-year-old Viking sword during a field trip to Brandbu in Gran municipality. Officials say the blade is unusually well preserved and described it as a "negget," meaning it is sharpened on only one side. Archaeologists date the find to the Merovingian era or the start of the Viking period (circa 481–751). The sword will be conserved at the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo.
Six-Year-Old Finds 1,300-Year-Old Viking Sword on School Trip
First grader finds viking sword on class field trip in NorwayCredit: Anna McLoughlin/Kulturarv i Innlandet
A six-year-old boy in Norway made a remarkable archaeological discovery during a school field trip. In early May, Cultural Heritage In Innlandet announced via Facebook that Henrik, a first grader from Fredheim School, unearthed a sword estimated to be about 1,300 years old while visiting Brandbu in Gran municipality.
First grader finds viking sword on field trip in NorwayCredit: Anna McLoughlin/Kulturarv i Innlandet
The Find
Teachers and classmates were on a supervised outing when Henrik noticed part of an object protruding from the soil. Officials describe the item as "an incredibly well preserved sword" that was partially exposed in the ground.
Ancient Viking SwordCredit: Kulturarv i Innlandet
“The sword is what we call ‘negget’. That means that it’s only sharp on one side,” the organisation said in a statement translated from Norwegian to English.
Dating and Significance
Archaeologists believe the blade dates to the Merovingian era or the beginning of the Viking period, roughly circa 481–751. The location where the sword was found is known in Norwegian as the "Land of the Warrior," and the BBC has reported that several important finds have come from the area over the years.
Conservation and Response
Staff at the site acted responsibly: they notified an archaeologist at Innlandet fylkeskommune as soon as the discovery was reported. The artifact will be transported to the Museum of Cultural History (Kulturhistorisk Museum) in Oslo, where conservators will carefully clean and preserve it.
The discovery has drawn praise for both the rarity of the find and the prompt, correct actions taken by the children and staff. Museums and archaeologists often rely on such timely reports to protect and study delicate artifacts.
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