3,200-Year-Old Bronze Swords Discovered In A Greek Necropolis
Greek Ministry of CultureThe swords were found near the city of Aegio and date back to the 11th or 12th century B.C.
Archaeologists exploring ancient tombs on the Trapeza plateau in Greece found a number of artifacts this year, including three bronze swords.
The swords, an especially rare find, date back to the Mycenaean era. They were discovered in a pile of bones and are estimated to be about 3,200 years old. Archaeologists raved that two of the blades were so well-preserved that they still had parts of their wooden handles attached.
“The presence of these weapons, as well as the long spears of the same chronological period found during the excavation in neighboring tombs in the necropolis of the Bank, is particularly important,” explained the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports in a statement.
“The weapons are products of the palace workshops, perhaps of Mycenae, thus in line with the Epic and the mythological tradition handed down to us.”
Alongside the bronze swords, archaeologists found a number of other significant artifacts at the site. Objects like beads, vases, and figurines all offer a tantalizing look at life in ancient Greece.
The site itself, which contains a series of tombs reused throughout the centuries, may yield more treasures during future excavations.
Archaeologists Find Pre-Viking Ski In Norway
Secrets Of The IceThe 1,300-year-old ski was found atop Mount Digervarden.
This year, archaeologists found an 8th-century ski in Norway — seven years after they’d first discovered its mate on Mount Digervarden.
“The skis are not identical, but we should not expect them to be,” explained Lars Pilø, an archaeologist with the Glacier Archaeology Program.
“The skis are handmade, not mass-produced. They have a long and individual history of wear and repair before an Iron Age skier used them together and they ended up in the ice.”
After finding the first ski back in 2014, archaeologists launched a search for the second one. They kept an eye on the location where they’d found the original ski and waited for the ice to recede. This year, it did.
When archaeologists returned to Mount Digervarden, they found the second ski just about 16 feet away from where they’d found the first one.
The ski, which is over six feet long, was likely used by a hunter or a traveler. And now, it’s been reunited with its mate for the first time in centuries.
After looking through these archaeology news stories from 2021, enjoy this list of history’s most important archaeological discoveries. Then, read the stories behind some of the world’s oldest structures.
