Incredible archaeological finds, which are thousands of years old, sometimes occur not only in countries rich in ancient artifacts, which are most often mentioned in such news. In Germany, for example, there are also many amazing discoveries. The other day, the scientific community was shocked by another news from local archaeologists: a 3,000-year-old sword was discovered in Bavaria, which shines like new. It has already been proven that this is not a novelty: the find is 30 centuries old.
Where and how was the sword found?
The Bavarian State Office for the Protection of Historical Monuments has officially announced the incredible artifact discovered by archaeologists. Archaeologists excavated in the ancient town of Nördlingen, between Nuremberg and Stuttgart. While excavating an ancient grave in which three people were buried, archaeologists saw a large sword between these remains. It was in excellent condition and even practically shiny. One of the buried men was a warrior, so his weapon was placed in the grave with him.
The city of Nordlingen has a rich history, and battles have repeatedly taken place on its territory over the centuries (as evidenced by the impressive defensive wall with loopholes surrounding it). For example, the city remembers the battles of the 30-year’ War, which in the 17th century swept several European countries. Nordlingen was the site of two battles – in 1634 and 1645.
However, the discovery of a military sword would be pretty logical. It would not cause such a big sensation in the scientific world if it dated back to the Middle Ages or at least the first centuries of our era. But the thing is that, as the examination has shown, this weapon is at least, and most likely, more than three thousand years old. According to historians, the type of sword to which the found weapon belonged was prevalent in those days in the territory that now belongs to the northern and southern parts of Germany.
The sword was made around the 14th century BC, during the Bronze Age, and such finds (especially in such good preservation) are extremely rare worldwide.
The head of the Bavarian State Office for the Protection of Historical Monuments, German Professor Mathias Pfeil, explained that the sword and the ancient burial site will be further investigated shortly, allowing archaeologists to classify the unique find more accurately. But even now, such an excellent condition of the sword is surprising. Geometric patterns and inlays are apparent.
The ornament is made using insertion and stamping. The sword’s hilt is octagonal, which was common in that era. Visit. A F R I N I K . C O M . For the full article. The weapon was made difficultly: first, the blade was cast, and then the hilt was “mounted” on top of it. This method is called overhead casting.
Based on the sword’s appearance, scientists concluded that it was a real, not a decorative, weapon that was repeatedly used.
Little is known about the three people whose remains were buried in this grave. They were a man, a woman, and a young man, and their bodies were buried one after the other. A rich bronze inventory was in the grave with them. It is unclear whether these people were one family or if nothing connected them during their lifetime.
Interestingly, the sword was found in mounds that had already been opened earlier in the 19th century. However, artifacts were not treated with such care and attention then.
How was it preserved, and to whom did it belong
As soon as the sword became known in the scientific community and its photos were published online, some skeptics immediately declared it a fabrication. They say that such an ancient artifact cannot be perfectly preserved. However, experts in antiquities believe that this is entirely possible. The moist soil in this area played an important role, protecting the sword from contact with oxygen. Experts point out that the bronze arrowheads beside the sword are well-preserved and almost shiny.
What kind of people could this formidable object belong to? Historians have yet to find out, and the scientific world is looking forward to the continuation of this story. Several millennia ago, many tribes and nationalities lived on the territory of modern Germany.
In general, people settled here long before the period when the owner of this sword lived. Archaeologists have repeatedly found much older objects in Germany. Examples of the oldest indisputable figurative art are the 40,000–year–old statuette of Löwenmensch (the lion man) and a flute from about the same period, which scientists attribute to the Aurignacian culture.
If we talk about the period when the people buried in the aforementioned mound lived, then the Indo-Europeans arrived in modern Europe 4,500 years ago. This happened during their mass migration. In the following centuries, mostly hunter-gatherers lived here. However, serious battles happened in these parts even then: 3-4 thousand years ago. We hope more accurate data will be available soon.
History is full of archaeological wonders, including artifacts and the places where they are found. The remains of ancient people, their clothes, and their household items can tell a lot about the lives of our distant ancestors.
