Bronze age treasure trove unearthed on Hungary's Somló Hill
Archaeologists have uncovered a Bronze Age treasure trove on Somló Hill in western Hungary, containing over 300 artefacts. This natural elevation is an extinct volcano that still conceals many secrets.
Archaeologists made a remarkable discovery on Somló Hill, a small wine region in northwestern Hungary, situated between Lake Balaton and the Austrian border. The area is renowned for its complex, full-bodied white wines. The focal point of the region is Somló Hill, an extinct volcano. Deep beneath, a Bronze Age treasure, over 3,000 years old, was unearthed. In the first year of research, more than 300 artefacts surfaced, including numerous bronze items, suggesting this place might have been a hub for bronze production.
What treasures does Somló Hill hide?
The discovery was detailed and published in the scientific journal "Antiquity". Among the finds on Somló Hill are items from the Late Bronze Age, dating from 1400-900 B.C., and from the Early Iron Age, from 800-450 B.C. This discovery is crucial for understanding the Hallstatt culture, known for its advanced metalwork in Central and Western Europe. People of this culture produced distinctive bronze sheet vessels known as situlae, often meticulously and richly decorated.
"The settlement of the hill appears to have been continuous during the transition to the Early Iron Age," write researchers in "Antiquity" led by Bence Soós of the Hungarian National Museum. The finds include not only metal artefacts like spearheads but also amber beads, wild boar tusks, domestic pig teeth, and elements of textiles and leather. Sediment analysis also reveals the presence of lentils and millet, characteristic of the Bronze and Iron Ages.
Somló Hill was a special place for this culture
Some historical accounts from the late 19th century suggest that other ancient artefacts were found at the base of the hill and nearby areas, though details about these discoveries remain limited.
The discovery on Somló, as described by researchers, is significant because it can help establish the chronology and geographical spread of the Hallstatt culture. The hill, which rises to about 430 metres, has not been affected by modern mining activities, making it an ideal site for archaeological research. "The discovered treasures attest to a deliberate and complex tradition of hoarding on Somló Hill," add the scientists.
Archaeologists plan to conduct radiocarbon dating of some materials to potentially provide valuable information about the transition from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age.
