Hiker discovers 1,200-year-old Viking sword in Norway

One lucky Norwegian hiker is probably happy to have stopped for a breather: While resting during a journey on an ancient route between west and east Norway, a hiker on a fishing trip happened across a 1,200-year-old Viking sword in such good condition that "it could be used today," The Local Norway said.

"It is very special to get a sword that is merely lacking its grip," Jostein Aksdal, an archaeologist at Hordaland County, said. He suggested it could be basically as good as new with a little polishing and a new grip.

The sword measures about 30 inches and appears to date from between 750 and 800 A.D. Aksdal said it was "a common sword in Western Norway," but that it would have been expensive and a sign of power for its owner.

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"When the snow has gone in the spring, we will check the place where the sword was found. If we find several objects, or a tomb, perhaps we can find the story behind the sword," Aksdal said.