SAEDNEWS: This iron sword, discovered in Valencia in 1994, has, according to the latest research, been dated to the 10th century, a period when the Islamic Caliphate controlled the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal).
According to the Society Service of Saed News, citing Faradeed, researchers report that a sword discovered in Spain—nicknamed Excalibur in homage to the legendary sword of King Arthur—dates back over a thousand years. This rare handcrafted weapon from the Islamic period of the Iberian Peninsula reflects the layered history of conquest in the region.
In Arthurian legends, Excalibur is a magical sword embedded in stone, destined to be drawn only by the young Arthur, granting him the right to rule the kingdom of Britain.
Three decades ago, researchers in Valencia, on Spain’s eastern coast, uncovered a sword in a similar vertical position, buried at an archaeological site. It was subsequently dubbed “King Arthur’s Sword.” Recently, the local city council’s archaeological service analyzed the sword and determined it dates to the 10th century, when Valencia was known as Balansiya.
José Luis Moreno, a council member, said, “This sword has a unique design that gives it archaeological and heritage value.”
The sword, made of iron with a bronze-covered hilt, is relatively short, measuring about 45 centimeters in length.
Aristos Giorgio noted, “This weapon was discovered in 1994 on the historic Chabàs Street, north of the Roman forum of Valencia—a region historically occupied by diverse cultures.”
Between 500 and 1000 CE, Byzantine, Visigothic, and Muslim forces battled for control over the Iberian Peninsula, comprising modern Spain and Portugal. During the early centuries, the peninsula was controlled by Western European Visigoths. In 711, armies united under the Umayyad Caliphate took control, establishing the Muslim-ruled territory known as Al-Andalus.
Archaeologist José Miguel Osuna led the recent study as part of a broader survey of Valencia’s metal artifacts spanning the Roman era to the late Middle Ages. The sword is short—approximately 45 centimeters—and features a hilt decorated with bronze plates and notches for easier handling. Its slightly curved tip initially complicated dating, as Visigothic swords had similar shapes, possibly reflecting the evolution of earlier Visigothic models. Osuna and his team confirmed the sword’s age by analyzing the sediment layers where it was buried.
Researchers suggest the weapon may have belonged to an Andalusian cavalryman. Its small size and lack of a hand guard support this theory. It is the only Islamic-period sword discovered in Valencia, with only one similar weapon found near Córdoba. Archaeological finds from this period are rare in Spain, and even more so in Valencia due to the city’s soil conditions.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art notes that the Islamic period in the Iberian Peninsula was marked by “significant intercultural exchange among Christian, Jewish, and Muslim populations.” By the 10th century, Córdoba had become “Europe’s largest intellectual center.” Muslim rule continued until around 1492, when the Christian conquest of Granada ended centuries of Islamic influence.
Moreno said, “Thanks to the recent study of this sword, we now have a new treasure in this Islamic Excalibur and a piece of ancient Balansiya’s historical heritage.”
