[SunkenCiv]

Archaeology Magazine's news item:

Last year, a metal detectorist discovered a sword from the Viking Age in a field in central Norway. Archaeologists from the Museum of Natural History and Archaeology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology excavated the site, and found a grave dating to about A.D. 950 that contained the remains of a Viking and his shield, in addition to the inscribed, high-quality sword. Hidden inside the shield boss they found a leather purse that contained several Islamic coins. Norwegian Vikings arrived in Spain in the 800s, where they may have come in contact with Islamic culture, or perhaps the coins were obtained through trade. "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 NRK, as reported by ThorNews. The shield boss also bears combat scars. "The shield boss has a clear cut mark by an ax or a sword. If he died in combat, we do not know," added Ystgaard.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Was there a treasure map showing the location of a huge golden bell?

[Hugin]

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.

Doesn't mean he travelled widely. It's well known there were established trade routes through Russia to the Baltics, and on to Scandinavia. He could have gotten those things without traveling there.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Neat find. How are Norway’s laws? Will it be returned to him?

[centurion316]

The Vikings carried on a regular trade with the Islamic world.

[hondact200]

Just wait the Muslims will claim that they found America too and the Vikings followed them there too. everyone knows that Leif Erickson founded America via Minnesota and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, there is even a highway named after him! Come now it is posted on the highway! The Muslims will scream it is racist it should be named Prophet Mohammed.

[Vendome]

Put pictured of the man’s stuff on the back of a milk carton.

Guaranteed hell see it and then you’ll know who the owner was.

[anymouse]

[Terry L Smith]

Remember, it is the Vikings who have scrawled their names, inside the St. Sofia church in Istanbul!!

[Hot Tabasco]

'We have not managed to find out who owned the sword, but we know that he was a well traveled man"

And here I thought I dropped it in Finland.........

[njslim]

Mercenary....??

[Varda]

To go along with what others have posted. I recall reading that the Vikings
had regular trade from pillaging eastern Europe (for slaves) to the Islamic
world. Those coins could have been standard currancy for the Vikings.

[StoneWall Brigade]

Very interesting