A fragment of a 10th-century Viking sword, the first of its kind discovered in the Netherlands, has been unearthed near the Frisian town of Witmarsum. This remarkable find, a pommel cap that once adorned the hilt of a sword, offers new insights into the Viking Age and the pivotal role Frisia played as a hub in the Norse world. The artefact, which may have been gilded, is now part of the Fries Museum collection, with further research underway.

The discovery was made in May by amateur archaeologist Sander Visser, who was exploring farmland near Witmarsum with a metal detector. “The detector gave a high, clear sound,” Visser recalled, “and as I dug, I realised this was part of a pommel. Its decoration made it stand out immediately.” Buried less than 20 centimetres underground, the pommel features intricate carvings in the ‘Mammen style,’ a signature of 10th-century Viking craftsmanship. The design includes wild boar motifs, their curling mouths still visible—a symbol of strength and courage in Viking culture.

The find not only sheds light on the artistry of Viking weaponry but also underscores the region’s historical connections. Dr Nelleke IJssennagger-van der Pluijm, director of the Fryske Akademy, explained its significance: “This extraordinary find shows that there is still a lot to discover about the Viking Age in Frisia, an area larger than present-day Friesland, about which we have learned a lot through research in recent years. Because this beautiful pommel cap is the first of its kind to be found in the Netherlands, it enriches our understanding of the contacts between Frisia and the Viking world in Scandinavia and the British Isles, and adds a new dimension to our historical knowledge.”

Swords in Viking and early medieval societies were not merely weapons—they were cultural icons. They often carried symbolic value and were sometimes passed down through generations, modified or decorated to reflect the status of their owners. According to Dr Diana Spiekhout, curator of Middle Ages and Mound Culture at the Fries Museum, these objects held an almost mythical reputation. “Swords were much more than just weapons during the early medieval period in northern and north-western Europe. People attributed human characteristics to them and they could have important symbolic value. You could call these ‘epic’ swords,” Spiekhout explained.

The newfound fragment raises intriguing questions: Was this pommel cap, a luxurious addition, perhaps deliberately removed by a new owner who wanted to customize the sword to his own liking? Or was the entire sword actually disassembled? And how did it end up in Friesland?

These are just some of the mysteries the Fryske Akademy and Fries Museum hope to solve through their joint research. “By combining our areas of expertise, we can study this find from various angles, namely from the Frisian context, the Viking world, and from sword traditions,” Spiekhout added. The results of their study are expected to be published by the end of 2025, with comparisons to other Viking finds providing context for the pommel’s journey and significance.

The public will have the opportunity to see this fragment in April, when it debuts at the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden as part of ‘Above Ground Level: Archaeological Finds 2000–2025’, a retrospective exhibition celebrating Dutch archaeology’s most remarkable discoveries. Afterward, the artefact will return to Friesland, where it will become a permanent feature at the Fries Museum.

Top Image: Pommel cap, copper alloy with traces of gilding. Witmarsum, 900-1000 CE. Fries Museum Collection, acquired with the support of the Alma Tadema circle, discovered by Sander Visser. Photo by Jacob van Essen/Hoge Noorden