Archaeologists from the Podřipsko Museum in Roudnice nad Labem have discovered a buried hoard of Bronze Age artifacts in North Bohemia. The site was discovered in 2023 by a metal detectorist near the town of Budyně nad Ohří and brought to the attention of the museum. Researchers at the Brno Institute of Archeology and Museology have been examining the artifacts ever since. The cache consists of eight bracelets, eight axe heads, two pins (probably for hair or clothes), and one spear head, all made of bronze. It is estimated to be about 3,600 years old. The items could be worth millions of Czech crowns, but their value to researchers is even greater.
Photo by Lucie Heyzlová, Český rozhlas
These artifacts are relatively well-preserved for their age. Martin Trefný, who is an archaeologist and head of the Podřipsko Museum, states that the collection was probably deliberately buried. Trefný provides a few potential explanations for this. It is possible that the hoard was meant as a tribute to the deities, or that the site was used as a storage pit for a merchant. Trefný also notes that the Bronze Age inhabitants of the area may have buried their property in response to some kind of incident. For example, if their village was being attacked by invaders, they could have stored their belongings underground to protect them from thieves.
The exact reason why the cache was buried is impossible to determine. Nevertheless, researchers may still be able to make other discoveries about the collection. They may perform tests to determine the origin of the metal or use microscopic photography to figure out how the axes were used. The artifacts are currently going through conservation treatments, but they are expected to be on display at the Podřipsko Museum in 2025.
Written by Maya Bouchebl
Sources:
Radio Prague International. “Unique Bronze Age hoard discovered in north Bohemia.” June 25, 2024. https://english.radio.cz/unique-bronze-age-hoard-discovered-north-bohemia-8820976
Independent. “Archaeologists find 3,600-year-old stash of buried weapons and jewellery in Czech Republic.” August 1, 2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/czech-republic-buried-treasure-weapons-b2589307.html