Posted on 06/06/2026 5:17:40 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
In April 2011, excavators working on a natural gas pipeline in northern Germany unearthed one of the largest gold hoards from prehistoric Europe. Dated to about 1300 B.C., the Gessel gold hoard consists of 117 artifacts that together weigh over 3.7 pounds (1.7 kilograms).
The hoard was discovered in the village of Gessel near the town of Syke and is now the centerpiece of the Forum Gesseler Goldhort museum. Around 3,300 years ago, someone placed the gold objects in a linen bag, secured the bag with six bronze pins, and buried it in the dirt...
The Gessel gold hoard includes 82 spiral rings linked into eight chains of 10 rings and one chain of two rings. An additional 32 spirals of various sizes were also in the hoard. Rather than jewelry, these spirals were likely a form of currency in the Middle Bronze Age and were crafted from recycled gold, according to prehistoric archaeologist Babette Ludowici.
Only three items in the hoard were personal accessories: a large, gold bracelet; a twisted armband; and a brooch. While the two armbands appear to have been unfinished, the brooch was elaborately decorated.
Originally, the brooch was about 6.3 inches (16 centimeters) long, but it was bent and the pin was removed prior to burial in the hoard. An artisan created a ladder-band pattern around the top and bottom of the clasp. The main part of the clasp features five raised sun symbols and six sets of concentric rings stamped into the metal. According to a 2012 study, it is the only ancient brooch made of solid gold to have been found in Central Europe.
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
Survivals of perishable materials is rare, but does happen. No reason to panic.
I used to pick up “drip dry” pants — linen — imported from I think Taiwan. They wear pretty well, thicker is better. Thinner fabrics in general often don’t have durable seams.
Flax was grown for oil at least 9000 years ago, the processing of linen fiber is first attested in an archaeological context (sez here the Alps) about 3700 BC.
I had a pair of linen slacks , got them in Italy. Very comfortable, especially in hot weather.
Detectin’ with the Mark I Eyeball.
Nice!
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