They recovered six ribbed rings and one fragment. Two of them are twisted arm rings with overlapping ends. The terminals are straight-sided, decorated with incised circles. The other four are leg rings. They have twisted ribs on one side, and flat interiors where they could touch the body. The terminals are open. The total weight of the rings is 837.2 grams (29.5 oz).
The discovered ensemble is a typical, intentionally deposited hoard find from the Late Bronze Age. Why people hid these elaborately crafted pieces of jewelry, undoubtedly of considerable material value, over 3,000 years ago, and what significance this act held, has long been a subject of debate. However, it seems certain that these were not treasures hidden during times of hardship, which their owners were unable to retrieve.
During the Bronze Age, the knowledge of metal deposits, metal production, and the control of trade routes led to the formation of new hierarchies and centers of power, transforming society. The fact that numerous comparable bronze hoards, some with a regular composition, have been found in Central Europe suggests that these were deliberate, ritually defined offerings – possibly to deities unknown to us today.
The rings are now being cleaned, catalogued and conserved. LfA archaeologists will study them further and hope to narrow down the dating by analyzing the decoration style.
State archaeologist Dr. Regina Smolnik: “As a research institution, the State Office for Archaeology Saxony will intensively study this find and place it in connection with other finds from this interesting period in order to further complete the picture of one of Saxony’s most important periods of prosperity.”
* This article was originally published here
