The Bamburgh Sword is similar in size to a Roman spatha, and would have originally measured about 76 centimetres (30 in) in length.
[1] It would have taken a blacksmith around two months to create the blade; archaeologist Paul Gething said that to "produce a weapon of this calibre required state-of-the-art technology of the time, those who witnessed the creation of this weapon would have thought it the equivalent of magic.
[1] The sword was unearthed by Brian Hope-Taylor during a dig inside the walls of Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, in 1960.
[1] A number of students had visited their former professor's house only because they had heard that his books were being sold off.
[1] After being researched by Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland,[3] the sword was returned to the castle in 2005, and remains there on display.