Bronze Age treasure discovered in Denmark

Image
Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : Jul 12 2015 | 3:32 PM IST
Archaeologists have discovered a treasure trove of gold spirals, which may have been used for religious ceremonies during the Bronze Age, buried in a field in the largest island in Denmark.
The 2,000 gold spirals that were found in Zealand have been dated as originating between 900-700 BC, according to the Danish National Museum.
Each spiral is made up of pure gold thread and measures up to three centimeters in length. The entire find weighs between 200-300 grammes.
The spirals were recovered from a site in the Boeslunde district in southwestern Zealand that had been excavated before, where a team found four gold bracelets.
Archaeologist Christian Albertsen offered to continue searching the area on behalf of the local West Zealand Museum, believing there was more to be found.
Archaeologists are still unsure what the spirals may have been used for since this is the first time such a find has been made in Denmark, 'The Local' reported.
"Maybe the spirals were fastened to threads lining a hat or parasol. Maybe they were woven into hair or embroidered on a ceremonial garb," said Flemming Kaul from the Danish National Museum.
"The fact is that we do not know, but I am inclined to believe that they were part of a priest-king's garb or part of some headwear," Kaul said.
Kirsten Christensen from the West Zealand Museum said that besides the spirals and gold bracelets, six golden bowls have been discovered in the area by local farmers in the 1800s.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jul 12 2015 | 3:32 PM IST

Next Story