Children digging into a slope at a residential complex in Vienna made an unexpected discovery earlier this year, uncovering a late medieval sword that is now being conserved by Austria’s Federal Monuments Office.
The discovery was made in March in Vienna-Hietzing, when the children were digging a “dwelling cave” and unearthed the 59-centimetre-long weapon, which has a 45-centimetre blade. Their parents reported the find to the Federal Monuments Office (Bundesdenkmalamt), whose experts inspected the location and secured the sword.
An archaeological investigation determined that the weapon had been lying within modern fill deposited during landscaping of the property. As a result, its original archaeological context had already been lost.
A late medieval Swiss sword
The late medieval sword discovered in Vienna-Hietzing measures 59 centimetres long, including a 45-centimetre blade. Photo: Bundesdenkmalamt / Irene Hofer
Experts identified the weapon as a Schweizerdegen, or Swiss sword, a type of short sword used by Swiss mercenaries during the 15th and 16th centuries.
The weapon was taken to the Federal Monuments Office’s Department of Conservation and Restoration, where examinations found it to be in a relatively stable condition. No significant parts of the blade or hilt appear to be missing, while the iron blade does not appear to have corroded completely through.
Conservators are now working to ensure its long-term preservation, including desalinating the sword and keeping it under controlled climatic conditions.
The children who discovered the medieval sword were invited to the Federal Monuments Office, where they learned how archaeological finds are examined and conserved. Photo: Bundesdenkmalamt / Irene Hofer
The children were later invited to learn more about their discovery and how archaeological objects are studied and conserved. Experts explained the historical background of the weapon, demonstrated conservation techniques and showed some of the scientific methods used to analyse archaeological finds. The children even had an opportunity to examine their find through a microscope.
The Federal Monuments Office praised the children and their parents for reporting the discovery. Under Austrian heritage law, accidental archaeological finds must be reported, allowing experts to document and study both the object and its location. Archaeological context can provide important information about an artefact, making prompt reporting particularly important when unexpected discoveries are made.
Although modern landscaping had already obscured the sword’s original context, its discovery has allowed the medieval weapon to be documented, studied and preserved.
Top Image: A child examines the medieval sword discovered at a residential complex in Vienna-Hietzing. Photo: Bundesdenkmalamt / Andrea Böhm
Children digging into a slope at a residential complex in Vienna made an unexpected discovery earlier this year, uncovering a late medieval sword that is now being conserved by Austria’s Federal Monuments Office.
The discovery was made in March in Vienna-Hietzing, when the children were digging a “dwelling cave” and unearthed the 59-centimetre-long weapon, which has a 45-centimetre blade. Their parents reported the find to the Federal Monuments Office (Bundesdenkmalamt), whose experts inspected the location and secured the sword.
An archaeological investigation determined that the weapon had been lying within modern fill deposited during landscaping of the property. As a result, its original archaeological context had already been lost.
A late medieval Swiss sword
Experts identified the weapon as a Schweizerdegen, or Swiss sword, a type of short sword used by Swiss mercenaries during the 15th and 16th centuries.
The weapon was taken to the Federal Monuments Office’s Department of Conservation and Restoration, where examinations found it to be in a relatively stable condition. No significant parts of the blade or hilt appear to be missing, while the iron blade does not appear to have corroded completely through.
Conservators are now working to ensure its long-term preservation, including desalinating the sword and keeping it under controlled climatic conditions.
The children were later invited to learn more about their discovery and how archaeological objects are studied and conserved. Experts explained the historical background of the weapon, demonstrated conservation techniques and showed some of the scientific methods used to analyse archaeological finds. The children even had an opportunity to examine their find through a microscope.
The Federal Monuments Office praised the children and their parents for reporting the discovery. Under Austrian heritage law, accidental archaeological finds must be reported, allowing experts to document and study both the object and its location. Archaeological context can provide important information about an artefact, making prompt reporting particularly important when unexpected discoveries are made.
Although modern landscaping had already obscured the sword’s original context, its discovery has allowed the medieval weapon to be documented, studied and preserved.
Top Image: A child examines the medieval sword discovered at a residential complex in Vienna-Hietzing. Photo: Bundesdenkmalamt / Andrea Böhm
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