A Norwegian mountaineer stumbled across a millennium old sword while walking on an ancient road.

According to CNN, the county council of Hordaland, southwestern Norway confirmed the blade was intact, dating to about 750, the early period of Viking society, an era in Norse history, from about 793 to 1066 Vikings went around destroying, plundering, trading from England to Russia and Asia, forming feudalism in Europe. 

"It's unusual to find a Viking artifact so intact. It's still good if it's sharpened," said Per Morten Ekerhovd, the county's archeology manager.

Goran Olsen, an outdoor hiker, found the motorcycle apparel  blade while resting in Haukeli, about 250 kilometers north of Oslo, a favorite fishing and hunting spot for many. 

Rusted sword

lying under some rocks on a famous ancient road that crosses a plateau between western and eastern Norway. The mountains here are covered with frost and snow six months a year, unaffected by humidity in the summer, which can be excellent conditions for preserving the sword, Ekerhovd said. 

A sword without a hilt

about 77 cm long, forged of iron. This was a highly valuable sword in the Viking era because at that time, iron forging was very expensive. It is likely that the sword belongs to a rich person. 

The artifact has been handed over to the University of Bergen museum for preservation, and next spring an expedition will set out to study the area where the skull clothing  sword was discovered.

"We are really happy that he found the sword and gave it back to us," Ekerhovd said. "It's an important specimen that helps shed light on the early Viking era."