Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com - The spring of 2024 was truly unforgettable for amateur archaeologist Claus Falsby
During his first experience with a metal detector, he discovered a remarkable sword in a bog near Veksø, west of Copenhagen, Denmark.
This ritually bent sword was part of an extraordinary cache find that included several precious items, carefully placed as a sacrifice marking the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age. Alongside the sword lay a necklace.
Falsny contacted the museum organization ROMU, which quickly rushed to the site. Their prompt response ensured that archaeological expertise was available, leading to a significant and rewarding discovery.
“This is what I would describe as a very rare find. From the early and middle parts of the Bronze Age, we have many deposit finds where bronze objects appear in bogs. However, we don't know as many from the later part of the Bronze Age. The sacrificial tradition, which has been so visible and dominant and is closely related to the society throughout the Bronze Age, is in retreat by the end of the Bronze Age," says Emil Winther Struve, an archaeologist at ROMU responsible for archaeological excavations in Egedal Municipality.
The sword was ritually bent before being laid down as an offering. According to Emil Winther Struve, this was done to render it useless as a weapon. However, due to its design and materials, it remained a worthwhile offering. Credit: Palle Østergaard Sørensen, ROMU
When archaeologists took over from Falsby and started excavating at the site, they uncovered several significant artifacts. The collection now features two small bronze axes known as celts, a ritually bent bronze sword with iron rivets in the handle, and two or three large ankle rings referred to as vulrings. Additionally, there is possibly a fragment of a large suit pin and an unidentified object that has appeared in other archaeological finds.
Adding to this impressive discovery, just days later and 70 meters away from the initial site, Claus Falsby unearthed another remarkable artifact—a large bronze necklace. This necklace stands out due to its unique design and is only the second of its kind found in Denmark. It is believed that this neck ring originated along the Polish Baltic coast, where such items are more prevalent, before reaching the Værebro Ådal area through established trade routes.
The large neck ring with the special polygonal (many-sided) cross-section has been excavated. Credit: Palle Østergaard Sørensen, ROMU.
The newly discovered objects have yet to undergo examination and analysis, but Emil Winther Struve has made some preliminary conclusions. Notably, he has identified when these items were likely placed in the bog as a sacrificial offering. The bronze sword with iron rivets is particularly significant, as it represents the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age by combining both materials in one artifact. This sword's iron rivets may be Denmark's earliest known iron find, dating back to approximately 500 BC—over 2,500 years ago. Additionally, the sword's design indicates that it was not manufactured in Denmark but was likely imported from regions north of the Alps, where the Hallstatt culture flourished and became a dominant force in Europe at the end of the Bronze Age.
The objects have now been handed over to the National Museum, and the sword, in particular, has piqued Emil Winther Struve's curiosity.
"We don't have many swords of that type in Denmark. It could be exciting to analyze both the bronze and the iron to determine exactly where it was produced. However, it won't be straight initially. But it is unusual that the iron rivets in the handle have been preserved, so it will likely look nice once the National Museum's experts have finished conserving it," Winther Struve said.
The recent discovery from the end of the Bronze Age has been named the Egedal find by archaeologists.
The necklace features a fine herringbone pattern. Credit: Palle Østergaard Sørensen, ROMU
Despite the significant cultural shifts during the transition between eras, the Egedal find provides evidence that elite groups maintained traditions that had been prevalent centuries earlier. These elites continued to afford and acquire highly expensive materials and objects, demonstrating their willingness to destroy and sacrifice them for religious purposes.
Egedal has been the site of several fascinating Bronze Age discoveries. In 1851, a significant collection of 163 objects from the early Bronze Age was unearthed, now referred to as the Smørumov find.
See also: More Archaeology News
Almost a century later, in 1942, the renowned Veksø helmets from the middle of the Bronze Age were discovered in Brøn's bog.
The latest discovery, known as the Egedal find by archaeologists, dates back to the end of the Bronze Age, which transitioned into the Iron Age around 500 BC. Collectively, these three finds offer an extensive overview of sacrificial traditions throughout the entire span of the Bronze Age.
Written by Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com Staff Writer
