WELL-PRESERVED 3,000-YEAR-OLD SWORD UNEARTHED IN GERMANY

The sword, which has an octagonal hilt, comes from a grave in Nördlingen. Photograph: Archäologie-Büro Dr Woidich

Tue 04 July 2023:

A bronze sword more than 3,000 years old , which is so well-preserved that it “almost still shines”, has been unearthed in southern Germany, officials say.

The Bavarian state office for the preservation of historical monuments (BLfD) said the sword, which is believed to date back to the end of the 14th century BC — the middle of the bronze age — was found during excavations last week in Nördlingen, between Nuremberg and Stuttgart.

The sword features an octagonal hilt made entirely of bronze and is believed to date back to the 14th century BC. Its craftsmanship suggests that it was a labour-intensive creation, and despite the absence of impact marks, it is believed to have served as a functional weapon.

The sword was found in in the southern town of Nördlingen. Photo: courtesy Archäologie-Büro Dr. Woidich/Sergiu Tifui.

The sword has comes from a grave in which three people – a man, a woman and a boy – were buried in quick succession with bronze objects, the BLfD said this week. It was not yet clear whether the three were related to each other and, if so, how.

Professor Mathias Pfeil, a Bavarian Artistic Conservation Officer, highlighted the significance of the find and emphasized the rarity of such well-preserved discoveries.

Further examination of the sword and the individuals interred with it will provide archaeologists with valuable insights for better understanding this remarkable discovery.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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