Archaeologists in Germany made an extraordinary discovery during an excavation in Nördlingen, Bavaria, after uncovering a 3,000-year-old sword that miraculously managed to maintain a pristine condition.
The so-called octagonal sword managed to keep its excellent preservation despite being uncovered at a burial site containing the remains of a man, woman and child.
The Bavarian State Office for Monument Protection, which announced the discovery, mentioned that the three individuals were buried in quick succession, although it remains unclear whether they were related.
"The sword and the burial still have to be examined so that our archaeologists can classify this find more precisely," Mathias Pfeil, head of the Bavarian State Office for Monument Protection who is involved with the sword's conservation, said in a statement. "But it can already be said: the condition is exceptional! A find like this is very rare!"
The sword, made of bronze, is exceptionally well-preserved, to the point where it still appears shiny. The bronze hilt of the weapon is octagonal and has acquired a greenish hue due to the oxidation of the copper content in the bronze when exposed to air and water.
Octagonal sword near the bones.
The researchers noted that octagonal swords were produced in two known manufacturing areas in Germany. One of these regions encompassed southern Germany, while the other included northern Germany and Denmark. The origin of the newly discovered sword has yet to be determined.