During excavations in the Donau-Ries in Bavaria in Germany, archaeologists have discovered a well-preserved sword that is over 3000 years old. The weapon is so exceptionally well preserved that it almost still shines.
The bronze sword was found in a grave in which three people with rich bronze gifts were buried in quick succession: a man, a woman and a youth. It is not yet clear whether the persons were related.
The sword provisionally dates to the end of the 14th century BC. i.e., the Middle Bronze Age. Sword finds from this period are rare.
It is a representative of the bronze full-hilt swords, whose octagonal hilt is made entirely of bronze (octagonal sword type). The production of octagonal swords is complex.
The artifacts found is yet to thoroughly examined by the archaeologists, but the state of preservation of sword is is extraordinary.
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Source:
Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments. Press release. Published June 14, 2023. Available at https://blfd.bayern.de/mam/blfd/presse/pi_bronzezeitliches_schwert.pdf
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