Iron Sword Dubbed as 'Excalibur' Found Upright in Ground, Experts Reveal It's From 10th Century A.D.

Researchers found fantasy turning to reality when they located an iron sword stuck upright in Spain. The discovery happened in 1994 at the north of the ancient Roman Forum in Valencia, Newsweek reported. The find was named 'Excalibur' by researchers after the mythical sword placed in similar conditions, from the British legend of King Arthur. Its origin was not easy for researchers to identify, as many different cultures had dominated the region throughout history.

The sword is around 18 inches long, according to researchers, Smithsonian Magazine reported. Its hilt is decorated with bronze plates and notches, most likely for easy handling. Researchers for a long time thought that the sword could belong to the Visigothic era because of the similarity in design, especially the slight curve of the blade.

In Arthurian tales, Excalibur was a sword magically lodged in a stone for years till a young King Arthur came and released it, Smithsonian Magazine reported. The sword in Valencia was found in a similar position, buried upright at an archaeological site. For decades researchers have been invested in restoring and analyzing the sword. The local city council’s Archaeology Service recently announced, that after years of efforts they have managed to date the sword. 

Researchers analyzed the artifact’s age by examining the layers of sedimentary earth in which it was buried, Smithsonian Magazine reported. Results indicated that the sword was from the tenth century.

This puts the find in the Islamic era of the region which lasted from  A.D. 711 to A.D. 1492, Live Science reported. Researchers were ecstatic with the results as they had little to no discoveries from the period because the area's environment was not suitable for conservation. "We have a new treasure in this Islamic Excalibur and a historical legacy of ancient Balansiya," said Councilor José Luis Moreno.

Researchers believe that the weapon's small size and lack of a hand guard implies that it was used by an Andalusian horseman, Smithsonian Magazine reported. Authorities and researchers are both interested in understanding more about the weapon. According to them, the find holds a lot of value in the historical context because of its origin and design.