Posted on 10/18/2019 6:35:30 AM PDT by Red Badger
Researchers discover belongings of a warrior on unique Bronze Age battlefield site
Recent archaeological investigations in the Tollense Valley led by the University of Göttingen, the State Agency for Cultural Heritage in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the University of Greifswald have unearthed a collection of 31 unusual objects. Researchers believe this is the personal equipment of a Bronze Age warrior who died on the battlefield 3,300 years ago. This unique find was discovered by a diving team headed by Dr Joachim Krüger, from the University of Greifswald, and seems to have been protected in the river from the looting, which inevitably followed fighting. The study was published in Antiquity.
The archaeological records of the European Bronze Age are dominated by settlement finds, hoards and evidence of funeral sites. However, the site at the river Tollense in Northern Germany is very different and provides for the first time in Europe the evidence of a prehistoric battlefield. Over 12,000 pieces of human bone have already been recovered from the valley and osteoanthropologist Ute Brinker, from the State Agency has identified more than 140 individuals – young adult males in good physical condition. Their bones showed signs of recent trauma – the result of close and long-range weapons – and healed lesions, which probably indicate they were accustomed to combat. Isotopic results suggested that at least some of the group were not from the local area, but until now, it was not clear how far they travelled.
The discovery of a new set of artefacts from the remains of battle provides important new clues. The divers could document a number of Bronze finds in their original position on the river ground, among them a decorated belt box, three dress pins and also arrow heads. Surprisingly they also found 31 objects (250g) tightly packed together, suggesting they were in a container made of wood or cloth that has since rotted away. The items include a bronze tool with a birch handle, a knife, a chisel and fragments of bronze. Radiocarbon dating of the collection of objects demonstrates that the finds belong to the battlefield layer and they were probably the personal equipment of one of the victims. The finds were studied in a Master’s thesis by Tobias Uhlig and the new results make it increasingly clear that there was a massive violent conflict in the older Nordic Bronze Age (2000–1200 BC). In fact, recent evidence suggests that it is likely to have been on a large scale, clearly stretching beyond regional borders.
Professor Thomas Terberger, from the Department of Pre- and Early History at the University of Göttingen, says, “This is the first discovery of personal belongings on a battlefield and it provides insights into the equipment of a warrior. The fragmented bronze was probably used as a form of early currency. The discovery of a new set of artefacts also provides us with clues about the origins of the men who fought in this battle and there is increasing evidence that at least some of the warriors originated in southern Central Europe.”
Original publication: Tobias Uhlig et al. Lost in combat? A scrap metal find from the Bronze Age battlefield site at Tollense (2019), Antiquity. DOI: 10.15184/aqy.2019.137
Contact
Professor Thomas Terberger
University of Göttingen
Department of Pre- and Early History
Nikolausberger Weg 15, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
Tel: +49 (0)171-3565493
Email: thomas.terberger@phil.uni-goettingen.de
Internet: www.uni-goettingen.de/en/570533.html
This collection of objects was found by divers in the Tollense river and is probably the contents of a personal pouch of a warrior who died 3,300 years ago on the battlefield.
Photo: Volker Minkus
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Human skull found in the Tollense valley with fatal trauma caused by a Bronze arrowhead.
Photo: Volker Minkus
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The battlefield remains from the layer where objects were found at the site near the Tollense river in Weltzin
Photo: Stefan Sauer
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View of the excavation site close to the Tollense river in Weltzin where many human remains and objects were found
Photo: Stefan Sauer
I did catch that and found it highly interesting, It changed the timeline narrative and assumptions of sea trading. :)
I like metal. :)
Everywhere but the great Lakes, or did they? :)
Some say the Vikings, some say the medieval English, some say the Knights Templar all came thru the Great Lakes...................
I agree. This is not equipment as such.
It could also be booty. Bronze was valuable.
I am one who believes this did indeed happen. The official narrative is that it never could have happened because “they couldn’t get their ships from the sea to the lakes”.
My first thought was “What? they didn’t know how to park their ships, walk across land, and build more boats as needed on the other side?” It is one of the most ignorant assumptions I have heard yet. Even the president of the maritime historical society made the comment they never could have done this because the ships would all have to be built in their home ports and “towed” to the new world. WHAT??? The sailors were not certified and approved by the shipbuilder’s union so they were not allowed to build them as need on the other end? If it wasn’t built in a shipyard then it was impossible? Dumbest thing I ever heard.
This prevalent ideology in perspective that dominates the academics is ignorant. They maintain for some reason that landlubbers could never have built boats and floated. And seafarers could never have crossed land. Where did they come up with these assumptions and ignorant stereotyping?
One of the reasons, out of many, that the new world was so enticing was that Europe was running out of trees to build ships.......................
I can see this need. Know where we need to look deeper for ancient wrecks and out of place artifacts? In the great lakes...
All you’ll find is old PBR cans............
Lol, Something interesting about the great lakes. I guess because of the cold water or something, it preserves wood very well. They are mining 150 year old timbers from the bottom that are like new. They found that they have a very unique quality that makes them valuable.
Fresh water doesn’t have marine organisms that destroy wood. ...........
He died doing what he loved.
That’s why! I wasn’t sure what it was. I remember reading somewhere that being water logged for so long all the cellulose is broken down and dissolved away. Apparently this makes it a very tone rich wood to make musical instruments out of. Cellulose deadens the tone and vibrations.
When they discovered this quality from these great lakes timbers is when they think they actually found the secret to the Stradivarius. They think Stradivarius soaked his wood for several years before dry curing it. This has of course been a mystery for a long time.
Thanks Red Badger.
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