Officials in Germany have announced the discovery of a remarkably well-preserved bronze sword that is over 3,000 years old. The sword, found during recent excavations in Noerdlingen, Bavaria, is believed to date back to the end of the 14th century B.C. This places it in the middle of the Bronze Age. The Bavarian state office for the preservation of historical monuments stated that the sword possesses an octagonal hilt made of bronze and was uncovered in a grave that contained the remains of three individuals—a man, a woman, and a boy. They were buried one after the other and were accompanied by various bronze artifacts. The relationship between the three individuals is yet to be determined.
According to Mathias Pfeil, the head of the office, further examination of the sword and the burial is necessary to provide a more precise categorization of the find. However, Pfeil noted that the exceptional state of preservation makes this discovery truly extraordinary. Swords from this period are rarely found, usually emerging either from 19th-century excavations of burial mounds or as isolated discoveries. This recent find contributes valuable insights into the Bronze Age and offers a rare glimpse into the past.