Archaeologist Detlef Jantzen (left) and Bettina Martin, Minister for Science and Culture, view the latest archaeological finds from Germany, including Bronze Age swords and thousands of silver coins.
(Image credit: Markus Scholz/dpa via Alamy Live News)
A bounty of centuries-old artifacts in Germany — including seven swords, thousands of silver coins, jewelry and pottery — were unearthed by a group of volunteer conservationists.
The excavators discovered the items last year at three separate locations dotting the German countryside, according to a translated statement.
Officials from Germany’s State Office for Culture and Monument Preservation presented the findings Nov. 22.
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The first discovery, made near the town of Mirow in northern Germany, contained fragments of seven 3,000-year-old swords dating to the Bronze Age. Archaeologists think the weaponry may have been placed there as a sacrificial offering and that later dredging caused the swords to break into pieces. However, they were able to piece the artifacts back together.
Conservationists unearthed the second finding, nearly 6,000 medieval silver coins, in Rügen, a German island about 120 miles (200 kilometers) north of Mirow. Most of the centuries-old coins were packed inside a clay pot, but many were scattered in the soil. Although the majority of the coins were minted in western Germany, archaeologists noticed that around 10% came from England, Denmark, Bohemia (in what is now the Czech Republic) and Hungary, suggesting possible trade relationships in the area. Researchers deemed the collection the largest Slavic coin hoard from the 11th century.
The final discovery was made in the town of Mölln, in northern Germany. It contained a variety of items, also from the 11th century, including a pot holding 1,700 coins; a pearl necklace made of gold, rock crystal and carnelian (quartz) beads; finger and neck rings; and two reliquary containers. The first container was shaped like a “kaptorga” — a flat, metal pendant typically worn around the neck — while the second was inspired by a crucifix. Archaeologists think the containers were evidence of Christianity’s influence in the area at that time.
Officials thanked the volunteers for the trio of discoveries during the presentation.
“[Volunteers] are indispensable for preserving our cultural heritage,” Bettina Martin, Germany’s minister of science, culture, federal and European affairs, said in the statement. “We also have the volunteer conservationists to thank for the three outstanding finds.”
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Jennifer Nalewicki is a Salt Lake City-based journalist whose work has been featured in The New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, Scientific American, Popular Mechanics and more. She covers several science topics from planet Earth to paleontology and archaeology to health and culture. Prior to freelancing, Jennifer held an Editor role at Time Inc. Jennifer has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from The University of Texas at Austin.
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