Category Archives: EUROPE

EUROPE, GERMANY, WORLD

The Largest Medieval Coins Treasure found in Recent Decades discovered in Germany

The Largest Medieval Coins Treasure found in Recent Decades discovered in Germany

The Largest Medieval Coins Treasure found in Recent Decades discovered in Germany

Archaeologists have unearthed one of the largest medieval coin hoards, consisting of approximately 1,600 coins, in recent years in the village of Glottertal in the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald region of Germany.

This remarkable discovery provides a unique window into the economic activities of Europe in the fourteenth century and illuminates the minting industry, silver trade, and wider circulation of money in Breisgau.

According to a press statement issued by the State Office for Monument Preservation in the Stuttgart Regional Council, the hoard was unearthed during construction works while excavating a trench.

The treasure was discovered by Claus Völker, a local citizen who was assisting with the laying of a pipeline near the village swimming pool in early May 2024, records a press release.

Most of the coins were minted around 1320. Type Breisach coins. Photo: State Office for Monument Preservation in the Stuttgart Regional Council

Völker caught sight of what he initially described as “small metal plates” within the excavation. He reported the discovery to the Stuttgart Regional Council’s State Office for Monument Preservation (LAD) as soon as he realized the objects’ possible significance. The same day, Völker and LAD archaeologists visited the site the same day to recover the coins and discovered a whopping 1000 coins.

At the same time, three detectors certified by the LAD were assigned to search for the loot. The interior of the trench became a knee-deep quagmire due to bad weather, but the determined researchers managed to find an additional 600 coins in the small window that was open to them.

Initial examination and cleaning of the coins indicated where they came from.

The bulk of the coins, according to LAD archaeologist Andreas Haasis-Berner, were struck circa 1320 and originated from a number of well-known mints, including Breisach, Zofingen, and Freiburg. There were also coins from Colmar, Laufenburg, Zurich, Basel, and St. Gallen.

The coins came from a wide variety of sources in the region. Type Zofingen coins. Photo: State Office for Monument Preservation in the Stuttgart Regional Council

Commenting on the significance of the find, Haasis-Berner explained: ‘Analysing this coin hoard will provide information about the circulation of coins in Breisgau, the minting activity in the mints, the silver trade and also mining in the Glottertal valley.’ When asked whether the treasure was very valuable at the time, the archaeologist said: ‘You could have bought around 150 sheep with the coins.’

This wide variety of coins bears witness to the wide-ranging commerce networks and currency exchange that existed in the area in the early 14th century.

Because of the wealth and power of the cities that produced them, every coin tells a tale about the political and economic environments of medieval Europe.

Officials described the artifacts as one of the largest coin treasures found in recent decades. Of course, this description is a small number compared to the more than 100,000,000 coins in Japan on 4 November 2023, some of which are more than 2000 thousand years old.

EUROPE, TURKEY, WORLD

Floor Mosaic of the Early Byzantine Period Unearthed in St Constantine and Helena Monastery Church in Ordu

Floor Mosaic of the Early Byzantine Period Unearthed in St Constantine and Helena Monastery Church in Ordu

Floor Mosaic of the Early Byzantine Period Unearthed in St Constantine and Helena Monastery Church in Ordu

Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism reported that an in-situ floor mosaic was found at the St Constantine and Helena Monastery Church in Ordu.

During the excavations in the region known for its ancient Roman tombs in the north of Ordu, archaeologists found the St Constantine and Helena Monastery Church in 2021.

In the Fatsa district of Ordu, it was determined that the monastery church uncovered in the area where 8 Roman-era tombs were found. The church from the Byzantine period was dedicated to Saint Constantine and Saint Helena.

The church and the tombs are an important part of the Ancient Polemonion City.

During the Pontus Kingdom era, Fatsa was originally named Polemonium, after King Polemon I, a Roman client king chosen by Mark Antony. In AD 62, the kingdom was turned into a Roman province under Nero.

The artifact found during the excavations carried out under the scientific responsibility of Associate Professor Seçkin Evcim and the Directorate of Ordu Museum is the first in-situ floor mosaic unearthed in Ordu province.

Photo: Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism

The in-situ floor mosaic unearthed in the Church of the Monastery of Saints Constantine and Helena can be dated between the 5th and 6th centuries in terms of style and form.

When the in-situ floor mosaic is analyzed in terms of style and form, it is known that geometric and floral motifs were widely used in the Early Byzantine period.

It is seen that the rhombus, which is mostly encountered in the borders, forms a panel here. It is possible to see similar panels formed with rhombus and labrys around it in Anatolia. It is known that the curved acanthus design was also used in the Early Byzantine period.

It is also seen that the curved acanthus, which is generally preferred for borders, is embroidered with fruit motifs and animal figures reflecting nature.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced on his social media account that an in-situ floor mosaic was found in the Monastery of Saints Constantine and Helena in Ordu.

Stating that the work found during the excavations carried out under the direction of the Ordu Museum Directorate is the first in-situ floor mosaic unearthed in Ordu province, Ersoy said, “I would like to wholeheartedly thank the Excavations Research Department and our excavation team who worked on the project.” he said.

EUROPE, POLAND, WORLD

16th-Century Compass Possibly Belonging to Nicolaus Copernicus Unearthed in Poland’s Frombork

16th-Century Compass Possibly Belonging to Nicolaus Copernicus Unearthed in Poland’s Frombork

16th-Century Compass Possibly Belonging to Nicolaus Copernicus Unearthed in Poland’s Frombork

Researchers have discovered a 16th-century compass that is thought to have been used by astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus in the canonical gardens of Frombork, northern Poland, during a recent archaeological dig.

Copernicus is famously known for his heliocentric theory, which posited that the Sun is the center of the solar system and the planets orbit around it, as presented in his work De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium.

Copernicus, who served as a canon at the Frombork cathedral, lived in the town for nearly 30 years, conducting his clerical duties and astronomical observations.

Nicolaus Copernicus famously wrote himself into history by looking up at the sky and speculating that the Sun, not the Earth, was at the center of the universe.

Now, researchers from Warminska Grupa Eksploracyjna, an amateur archaeological exploration group in Poland, have made a discovery about Copernicus himself by looking at the ground.

The compass was found in the gardens where Copernicus did much of his astronomical work.

The compass, which was made of a copper alloy, was discovered buried under the gardens of the northern Polish cathedral known as the Archcathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Andrew, or Frombork Cathedral.

The Warminska Grupa Eksploracyjna posted a description of their amazing discovery along with the steps that led to it on social media. Using a method that has proven invaluable in archaeological digs for its ability to reveal hidden structures without disturbing the earth, ground-penetrating radar was used to investigate beneath the cathedral’s grounds.

The compass was discovered in a trial pit that also revealed a corner of a now-nonexistent canonry and the entrance to its partially collapsed cellars.

“In the garden where Nicolaus Copernicus made his astronomical observations, we found a compass dating back to the beginning of the 16th century,” stated Misja Skarb, a member of the Warminska Grupa Eksploracyjna, wrote on Facebook.

“This incredible discovery not only takes us back in time to the period when Copernicus was making his groundbreaking discoveries, but also opens up new possibilities to understand his methods of working.”

Even though there isn’t enough proof to say that Copernicus used the compass himself, the circumstances surrounding its discovery point to a close relationship.

The compass is the third of its kind to be found in Poland, and the second to be found in Frombork’s gardens. According to an employee from the Nicolaus Copernicus Museum in Frombork, Zorjana Polenik, the compass “could have belonged to Nicolaus Copernicus himself.”

The museum hopes that conservation services will eventually add this artifact to its collection.

EUROPE, SCOTLAND, WORLD

3,000-year-old Bronze Age Hoard Discovered During House Building Project in Scotland

3,000-year-old Bronze Age Hoard Discovered During House Building Project in Scotland

Recent laboratory investigations of the Rosemarkie find, unearthed during the Black Isle housing development at Greenside in Rosemarkie, Highland Scotland, have revealed rare organic plant remains intertwined with nine bronze bracelets and necklaces buried around 1000 BC.

This remarkable find provides invaluable insights into the lives, beliefs, and practices of Bronze Age highlanders.

The hoard is particularly noteworthy because it was found in the middle of a Bronze Age village that included at least six roundhouses and a Bronze Age cist grave, rather than being an isolated find with little context to explain it.

Altogether GUARD Archaeology’s analysis will add to what they have gleaned from another Bronze Age hoard they excavated in Carnoustie on the east coast of Scotland, also found within a Bronze Age village, which may altogether reveal aspects of Bronze Age culture apparent across Scotland.

X ray image of hoard taken prior to excavation in GUARD Archaeology’s Finds Lab.

The laboratory excavation revealed a complete neck ring, a partial neck ring, six penannular (incomplete ring) bracelets, and one cup-ended penannular bracelet. These artifacts were intertwined with fibrous cords that had survived the 3000-year interment, showcasing the intricate craftsmanship of the time.

As per the GUARD Archaeology report, preserving these organic materials holds great significance since they offer a unique glimpse into the techniques employed to join these artifacts.

“The recovery of the artifacts was successfully carried out under the controlled conditions necessary to preserve these highly significant objects, particularly the very delicate organic cords that tether some of the objects together,” said Rachel Buckley, who led the laboratory excavation.

Detail photograph showing organic plant binding intertwined with the artifacts.

“Where bracelets were held together with organic material, these were recovered as a group to allow further detailed study. While there are other examples of hoards where it has been postulated that items were bound together due to their positioning, the vegetation in the Rosemarkie hoard has survived for approximately 3000 years, proving that these artifacts were held together.”

The anti-microbial properties of copper in the bronze likely contributed to the preservation of these materials, as the corrosion products from the copper adhered to the organics, protecting them from decay.

In order to determine why the hoard was buried here, GUARD Archaeology will investigate the numerous lines of evidence in more detail over the coming months.

Because the shallow pit was filled once and only holds the hoard, the archaeologists surmise that the burial was intentional and may have been meant as temporary storage. Evidence from the nearby settlement may help determine whether the hoard and the settlement were abandoned at the same time.

Detail photograph of organic material within cup-ended penannular bracelet cup end.

Educational initiatives have also been made possible by the archaeological work, which Pat Munro (Alness) Ltd funded as part of Highland Council’s planning consent conditions. Senior Manager of Pat Munro Homes, Hamish Little, expressed excitement about educating students at Fortrose Academy about the historical significance of the hoard.

A permanent feature that tells the story of this discovery, encourages community involvement, and informs visitors about Rosemarkie’s Bronze Age past is being planned.

CZECH REPUBLIC, EUROPE, WORLD

Archaeologists discovered 7,000-years-old Neolithic Settlement in the Czech Republic

Archaeologists discovered 7,000-years-old Neolithic Settlement in the Czech Republic

Archaeologists discovered 7,000-years-old Neolithic Settlement in the Czech Republic

Archaeologists have discovered a Neolithic settlement of about 7,000 years old near Kutná Hora, east of Prague in the Czech Republic.

It is unique in that no other settlements were built on its site in the following millennia, and it has been exceptionally well-preserved, including the floor plans of four long houses.

The life of the first Neolithic inhabitants was not simple and was closely linked to nature. They provided food by growing, raising livestock, but also by gathering or hunting.

Although working in the fields without a plough and using only wooden tools seems almost unimaginable from today’s perspective, these communities were successful – within a few centuries, they spread across most of Europe, superseding the original hunters and gatherers.

Prehistoric people settled in Dobren near Kutná Hora at the very edge of the area with sufficiently fertile soil and suitable climate for prehistoric agriculture.

Daniel Pilař, from the Institute of Archeology of the Czech Republic Academy of  Sciences, who researched the site, made a statement to Radio Prague: “This site was discovered early this spring as part of rescue excavations. We usually supervised construction work in our district and one day, in the middle of construction, we were surprised to find relics of a settlement that is not typical for this region. “When we saw the house plans, we immediately knew we were dealing with a Neolithic settlement,” he said.

The hitherto unknown settlement from the Early Stone Age was built more than 7,000 years ago by communities of the oldest farmers who came to the Czech territory from South-Eastern Europe.

Archaeologists found floor plans of four long houses – typical buildings of their time. Although the houses as such have not survived to this day, it is possible to find pits after their columns during research.

“The houses used to be between 4 and 6 m wide and between 10 and 40 m long. The houses themselves are not preserved because they were built from wood.

The columns are built most densely in the outer rows that formed the walls of the house. In them, the columns sometimes stood right next to each other. However, their inner rows have larger distances between them – usually more than a meter – so it was possible to move between them without any problems,” explains Daniel Pilař.

In addition to the houses, the researchers found many pits. These pits were used for the extraction of clay that was used for the construction of houses.

Experts found mostly pottery in the pits – it was used every day for cooking, serving, and even storage. Moreover, they were consumer goods, and when they broke, people easily replaced them with new ones. Occasionally, used tools – flint blades, sharpened axes and stone grinders – also ended up in the pits.

“This waste is very important for us because it offers a perfect insight into the everyday life of the Neolithic people,” said Pilař.

In the coming months and years, experts will be working on processing the data they have collected in the field, for example, by means of radiocarbon and luminescence dating, phytolith analysis, analysis of prehistoric trees, as well as tool marks and plant genetics research. This will involve a broad team of experts from different disciplines.

EUROPE, ITALY, WORLD

A New Picene Prince Tomb Dating to the 7th Century BC with Two Chariots Discovered in Corinaldo, Italy

A New Picene Prince Tomb Dating to the 7th Century BC with Two Chariots Discovered in Corinaldo, Italy

A New Picene Prince Tomb Dating to the 7th Century BC with Two Chariots Discovered in Corinaldo, Italy

Following the discovery of the so-called ‘Prince of Corinaldo’ in 2018, archaeologists from the University of Bologna have discovered a new princely tomb dating to the 7th century BC at the Corinaldo Necropolis in the Italian province of Ancona.

The Piceni people lived in Italy during the early Iron Age. They were primarily concentrated in Novilara in the north and Belmonte in the south. There is proof that they were wealthy people and that they traded with the Greeks as early as the 7th century BC.

According to researchers, their population was warlike and they possessed very little artistic ability. In the end, in 268 BC, Rome annexed their territory.

A recent discovery led by Dr. Cecilia Carlorosi and Ilaria Venanzoni consists of a princely tomb of notable magnitude.

The excavation revealed a square pit approximately 3.80 meters by 2.20 meters, located within a large circular ditch originally with a diameter of 30 meters.

A helmet found in the grave.

Objects recovered from a high-status grave of the Piceni people discovered in Corinaldo, in the central Italian region of Le Marche, this tomb contained more than 150 artifacts, among which a two-wheeled chariot and a prestigious set of bronze objects stand out.

Among these objects are a helmet, a cauldron, and numerous finely decorated containers, indicative of the aristocratic lifestyle of the time. While numerous other objects, probably from his home, were connected to the sacred ritual of farewell.

The archeological evidence points to a relationship between the Picene nobility and the Etruscan culture, with which they had interactions and exchanges throughout history.

Artifacts found in the tomb.

The artifacts discovered, which include food and drink containers and utensils for banquets, provide an intriguing look into the daily routines and habits of prominent members of the ancient Picene society.

This discovery is part of the ArcheoNevola Project, directed by the University of Bologna in collaboration with the Municipality of Corinaldo and the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the provinces of Ancona and Pesaro Urbino.

BULGARIA, EUROPE, WORLD

Roman-Era Sarcophagus Discovered on Varna Beach one of Bulgaria’s Most Popular Tourist Destinations

Roman-Era Sarcophagus Discovered on Varna Beach one of Bulgaria’s Most Popular Tourist Destinations

Roman-Era Sarcophagus Discovered on Varna Beach one of Bulgaria’s Most Popular Tourist Destinations

An ancient sarcophagus from the Roman era was discovered by chance on the beach near the resort of Saints Constantine and Helena, one of Bulgaria’s most popular tourist destinations.

Sts. Constantine and Helena Resort is the first officially recognized Black Sea resort and is situated 8 km north of Varna city amidst an area of remarkably splendid natural beauty.

Ancient Varna became a Thracian settlement and later an Ancient Greek colony, and then part of the Roman Empire in 15 AD. The Roman baths or thermae in Varna were constructed in the late 2nd century and used until the late 3rd century.

A former policeman on holiday in the area noticed the sarcophagus and reported it to the Fifth Regional Department-Varna. The unattended artifact was located near a newly built but still non-operational complex.

The find was reported to the local authorities, leading to a swift response by the Varna Archaeological Museum and the regional office of the Culture Ministry Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, who are now examining it.

According to Bulgarian National Television, after a preliminary examination by a police patrol, archaeologists, the Varna Archaeological Museum, and a local representative of the Culture Ministry Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, it was determined that it most likely belonged to the Roman era, specifically the second or third century AD.

Measuring approximately 90 x 235 x 75 cm (3 x 7.7 x 2.5 feet), the sarcophagus is adorned with elaborate relief decorations. These include garlands, leaves, grapes, animal heads, rosettes, labris (double-edged ax), and other stylized ornaments, characteristic of Roman funerary art.

According to the Bulgarian media outlet “24 Hours,” the sarcophagus may have been intended for use as a table, as it was found with a modern marble lid featuring three niches.

Experts suspect it was cut to fit the top, and it had been painted with facade paint, which is now being cleaned, according to Milen Marinov, a restorer at the historical museum in  Varna.

Marinov said of the ongoing examination: “We want to see what is under it, whether any of the original coloring has remained, what technique was used to make it – all of the information that will tell us if the sarcophagus is authentic. We have just started, we can’t say anything for sure.”

The investigation aims to determine whether the sarcophagus is an authentic Roman relic, a modified original, or a contemporary creation meant to resemble an antique.

Marinov emphasized the difficulties in making such evaluations, pointing out that there are many ways to age objects artificially so that they appear older than they are. This thorough analysis is crucial in verifying the sarcophagus’s authenticity and historical value.

With the help of the staff of the Regional Department for Fire Safety and Civil Protection and heavy equipment, the artifact was transported to the Archaeological Museum in Varna for storage, where expert examinations are to be carried out.

EUROPE, FRANCE, WORLD

A Decorated Block with Decapitated Gaul Found for the First Time in Toul, France

A Decorated Block with Decapitated Gaul Found for the First Time in Toul, France

A Decorated Block with Decapitated Gaul Found for the First Time in Toul, France

A Corinthian-style carved block that was once part of the entablature of a monumental Gallo-Roman public building has been discovered in Toul, northeastern France. This is the first time an architectural element of this size, Corinthian-style found in Toul.

In Toul, a city in northeastern France, a large-scale construction project is underway to install a heating network, a system of underground pipes that pump hot water, preventing the need for individual boilers or electric heaters in every building.

The operation involved following the opening of several sections of trenches for the installation of the future district heating network, over a total length of around 2 km, from March to November 2024. Researchers didn’t expect to make monumental discoveries along the way.

Toul is an ancient city existing in a modern time, built first at the crossroads of Roman roads and then developed well into the 19th century, according to a news release from the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research.

The ancient, medieval, and modern town of Tullum-Toul developed at the confluence of the Moselle and the Ingressin stream, at the foot of the Moselle hills. It is located at the crossroads of Roman roads (including the Via Agrippa), ancient paths, and bridges spanning the Moselle. It has flourished since ancient times, becoming the chief town of the Belgic Leuci trib.

Roman walls were previously discovered, then one piece of the stonework was found to have carvings.

Originally a Leuci hillfort (oppidium), the town was surrounded by massive defensive walls constructed by the Romans in the late third or early fourth century. These walls largely relied on spoglia, which are repurposed building materials from older structures. The walls stood for centuries. The walls and 15 towers remained in active use until the fortifications were rebuilt in 1700.

Toul became the seat of a bishopric in the fourth century and of a vast diocese based on the ancient Pagus Tullensis. From the middle of the sixteenth century, Toul was associated with the three Lorraine bishoprics of Verdun and Metz, which became part of the kingdom of France.

Archaeologists from France’s National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) that a fragment of the ancient wall seven feet thick was discovered in April, followed by a low masonry and rubble wall nearby. The carved block of stone was discovered 20 feet away from this second wall.

Archaeologists believe the block once belonged to a monumental building, but then at some point later in history it was broken and used as part of the defensive wall.

The block of white limestone is a sizable portion of an elaborately carved entablature. Its dimensions are four feet wide by 3.3 feet deep by 1.7 feet high, and its weight exceeds 880 pounds.  It was likely larger before it was broken apart. It features two elaborate modillions, which are brackets that support tall, flat architectural elements like roofs and cornices. It is broken at both ends, likely damaged when it was torn off an old building for reuse in the wall.

A Gaul being beheaded by a Roman sword surrounded by vines was carved into the stone.

The modillions feature acanthus-like vegetal decoration on one and the Gallo-Roman version of a Green Man figure on the other. Between the modillions are two rectangular metopes. One is carved with what appears to be a shield, the other with an iconographic type seen on local potin leuque coins from the 1st B.C.

In between the artistic carvings, a more violent image is cut into the stone. The severed head of a Gaul is carved with a hollow eye, and the head is resting on what is identified as a Roman sword. Archaeologists said the image is a clear depiction of the Romans’ victory over the Gallic people in northeastern France.

Although a large mausoleum located north of Trier has an entablature with similar features, this block’s elaborate decoration and size suggest it was part of a monumental public building. Comparable examples from the second century A.D. can be seen on the facades of temples, theaters, baths, triumphal arches, and gates.

The block has been placed in temporary storage at the INRAP headquarters in Metz. It will cleaned, conserved, and studied before eventually going on display in the Toul Museum.