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When eight-year-old Saga Vanecek pulled an ancient sword from Sweden's Vidöstern Lake, the world knew what Fate was trying to tell us.
According to what the epically named miniature heroine told The Local:
"I was outside in the water, throwing sticks and stones and stuff to see how far they skip, and then I found some kind of stick."
She added: "I picked it up and was going to drop it back in the water, but it had a handle, and I saw that it was a little bit pointy at the end and all rusty. I held it up in the air, and I said 'Daddy, I found a sword!' When he saw that it bent and was rusty, he came running up and took it."
The sword is notably well preserved. Measuring 85 cm (33.5 inches) in length, the find even included the weapon's scabbard, made from wood and leather. The experts at the museum initially estimated it to be 1,000 years old – though they now believe it could be even older, maybe from the 5th or 6th century CE. That would mean that the relic predated the Viking age by 300 to 400 years.
Meet Saga, an 8-year-old Swedish girl who went into a lake and pulled out an ancient viking sword and whom I will follow into battle anywhere, any time. ALL HAIL SAGA! https://t.co/yqhenn4Fn2 pic.twitter.com/3x6uzcs667
— Kaleigh Rogers (@KaleighRogers) October 4, 2018
The unexpected discovery has prompted groups of archaeologists, including staff from the museum, to search the lake for other ancient finds. However, while conservation staff is currently working to reveal the details of the sword, other mysteries have yet to be solved.
Mikael Nordström from Jönköpings Läns Museum said:
"Why [the sword] has come to be there, we don't know. When we searched a couple of weeks ago, we found another prehistoric object; a brooch from around the same period as the sword, so that means – we don't know yet – but perhaps it's a place of sacrifice. At first, we thought it could be graves situated nearby the lake, but we don't think that anymore."
Saga's majestic sword of destiny. Jönköping County Museum
If we can believe Twitter, the reason for the sword is apparent: Saga, like seven-year-old Matilda before her, might not be the hero we were expecting, but she is certainly the hero we need.
Still, not everyone is convinced.
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