PBS Nova just played this from last year. The Vikings had swords made from crucible steel hundreds of years before the technology was available in Europe. If you have any interest in Vikings, metallurgy or old weapons, this program is for you.
I found it on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWwla6QfYqw
Saw this a while back. What's odd is that the swords with the name spelled correctly on the blade are all high quality steel and the ones with incorrectly spelled names are all low quality. The producers of the show seem to think their just knock-offs as opposed to ceremonial. In other words made to be buried with the warrior. You might want to be buried in your T because it can get you out of any hole you get into but a cheap sword is just, well, a cheap sword.
Good thinking, Charlie.
Not unlike George Costanza on Seinfeld I think of snappy comebacks when it's too late. I should have said a cheap sword will put you in that hole in the first place.
That was fascinating thanks!
"The Vikings had swords made from crucible steel hundreds of years before the technology was available in Europe."
Since when have Scandinavia not been part of Europe?
Interesting translation, Michael. The Vikings had the swords, but not the technology. The steel probably came from Persia or India.
I had a friend (now departed) in England. I found it interesting how he used the word "Europeans" to describe mainlanders. I asked him about it. While he admitted England was a technically in Europe, he still kinda had an "Us" and "Them" attitude.