Archaeologists in eastern Germany have unearthed one of Saxony’s most significant Bronze Age discoveries near Görlitz, uncovering 310 pieces of bronze artifacts dating to the 9th century BC. Weighing over 16 kilograms, this treasure trove represents the largest Bronze Age find ever made in Upper Lusatia and the second largest in all of Saxony, offering extraordinary insights into ancient ritual practices and Bronze Age craftsmanship.
Century-Old Mystery Finally Solved
The discovery in Klein Neundorf represents the culmination of archaeological speculation dating back over a century. In 1900, potato-harvesting children first found three bronze daggers in the area, with only one surviving today in the Görlitz Museum after the others disappeared during World War II. A socketed axe donated in 1902 led experts to suspect more artifacts lay hidden beneath the soil.
That suspicion proved correct when Dr. Jasper von Richthofen, director of the Görlitz Collections, led modern excavations in 2023 with the Saxony State Office for Archaeology. Metal detectorist Henry Herrmann initially found bronze sickle fragments, leading to the discovery of 108 scattered items disturbed by centuries of plowing. Soon after, the team revealed a dense cluster of artifacts preserved in their original context.
The concentrated deposit was excavated as a single block and analyzed in laboratory conditions from September 2023 to April 2024, revealing remarkable preservation and providing crucial data about Bronze Age metallurgy and ritual practices.
