History

The story the sword has to tell is currently being unravelled by experts at Manx National Heritage.

Curator of Archaeology, Alison Fox says the sword dates back to about 900 AD.

“We are looking at something around 11 hundred years old. Obviously we haven’t got the whole sword but what we do have is the most decorated part which tells us when and where it hails from, probably Norway.”

“We have had Viking swords before, this is the 13th recorded find, but we have never had anything in bronze or with this level of decoration before.”

“The sword is on temporary display in the reception area of the Manx Museum in Douglas but we are hoping to make it a permanent part of our new Viking gallery along with some others which have been found on the island.”

Further research will be carried out before the artifact can be permanently displayed in the new Viking and Medieval Gallery at the museum but in the meantime the sword fragments are on display in the foyer of the Manx Museum.

Dan Crowe and Robert Farrer are the dedicated pair who recently discovered the sword.

Question: How did you come across this great find?

(Dan) We had not searched in this particular field before but Robert had done some research which showed that there might be finds there.

So we got permission to go on and within the hour Robert was walking over to me with this wonderful sword pommel in his hand, which we knew was Viking just by its style and its decoration. We knew straight away we had found something special and we were very excited with the find.

We continued to search in the surrounding area and found the other parts of the sword.

How many pieces in total did you find?

(Dan) There are currently five pieces, the pommel, the upper hand guard and three fragments of the lower hand guard.

Is it your best find to date?

(Robert) It is superb. It is definitely one of our best finds.

After talking to the experts it is 10th century possibly earlier in a Norwegian style which links it to the Vikings. It might even have come from Norway.

Did you know immediately when you dug it up it was something special?

(Robert) I have been a metal detector for over 33 years and my instincts told me it was a pommel and when we looked at the decoration it was clear it was Viking in style.

It is now on display at the Manx Museum and is set to be a main part of their new Viking exhibition. How do you feel about that?

(Dan) We have just been to look at it in the museum and we are very happy to have had a part in its discovery.