A Sharp Find

A pointy bit of Danish history surfaced in September. While combing a field in Svebølle with a metal detector, two amateur archaeologists heard pings and started digging. Less than a foot down, they unearthed a 32-inch sword with a blade that was still sharp. Arches and recessed lines decorate the sword’s handle. The ornamental style suggests it’s about 3,000 years old, placing it in the late Nordic Bronze Age, says Arne Hedegaard Andersen of the Vestsjaelland Museum in Denmark. Given that timestamp, it’s possible an ancient warrior wielded this remarkably preserved relic, Andersen says.