I'll stop with the archaeology stories today, but this one is pretty neat. The steel for Viking swords came from modern-day Afghanistan and Iran. And how would like to be the one that found out his wasn't up to standard? :eek:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/dec/27/archaeology-vikings-sword
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/dec/27/archaeology-vikings-sword
It must have been an appalling moment when a Viking realised he had paid two cows for a fake designer sword; a clash of blade on blade in battle would have led to his sword, still sharp enough to slice through bone, shattering like glass.