Report by Dhruva KC
June 24, 2023, Bavaria(Germany): Archaeologists excavated a gravesite in Nördlingen, a southern Bavarian town. At that site, they found an ancient sword.
The sword was over 3,000 years old dating back to the 14th Century BC. This excavation was part of the ongoing archaeological activity in the Donau-Ries city as the region has a history of civilizations.
Where was the sword found?
This sword was found in a grave along with the remains of three people, a woman, a man, and a child. It was a part of the grave goods (items that are buried along with the person and weaponry. This discovery attracted the attention of many as it is in exceptional condition after many years and it is a very rare find.
What was the purpose of the sword?
The sword’s hilt (handle) is made up of pure bronze and in the shape of an octagon, that is why it is called an octagonal sword. It is difficult to create one as the handle is cast over the blade. It was decorated with inlays (embedded designs) and hallmarks (stamps). There are only two real rivets but there is another rivet used. Although there are not many signs of the sword being used in war, the center of gravity in the front part of the blade shows that it was a real weapon.
What is so unique about this discovery?
This find is really rare because most weapons from the Bronze Age were stolen by grave robbers in the 19th Century BC. The shine on the sword is not lost yet, indicating advanced preservation techniques available so many centuries ago.
