Archaeologists unearthed an ancient sword at a German burial site that is believed to be more than 3,000 years old. The Bronze Age sword is said to be in such remarkable condition that it “almost still shines.”
An “extraordinary” bronze sword with an ornate octagonal hilt was discovered during excavations last week in Nördlingen, Germany – between Nuremberg and Stuttgart. The sword was found at a grave site said to have the remains of three people – a man, woman, and young person. Archaeologists believe the trio were buried shortly after one another, but it is not clear as to their relationship to each another. There are also several arrowheads in the burial mound.
The sword is believed to date back to the end of the 14th century BC — the middle of the Bronze Age.
Bavaria’s State Office for Monument Protection noted that the sword is in such impressive condition that it “almost still shines.”
“The sword and the burial still need to be examined so that our archeologists can categorize this find more precisely. But we can already say that the state of preservation is extraordinary. A find like this is very rare,” said Mathias Pfeil, head of the Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments, according to the Associated Press.
The German website Welt noted:
The manufacture of such octagonal swords was complex because the handle was cast over the blade. Two of the recognizable rivets are real connections, the other two are only suggested. Despite the effort involved in making it and the lack of any traces of a blow, the Bavarian archaeologists assume that it was a real weapon, not just a showpiece. The center of gravity in the front part of the blade indicates that this sword was primarily aimed at slashing.
The Jerusalem Post reported, “The sword, which had a greenish color, contains both bronze and copper. Over time, the copper oxidized to create the unique color.”
Archaeologists believe that the sword’s components were crafted in southern Germany, northern Germany, and Denmark.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Archaeologists find a 3,000-year-old bronze sword in Germanywww.youtube.com