During the course of rescue excavations prior to the construction of a
railway line in Ebreichsdorf, Lower Austria, archaeologists discovered an
extremely rare gold bowl, adorned with a sun motif - the first the kind to be
found in Austria.
[Credit: Andreas Rausch, Novetus]
The excavation site, stretching along a north-south and east-west axis over several hundred metres, is believed to be a Late Bronze Age settlement of the Urnfield culture. Occupied between 1300 and 1000 BC, the settlement consisted of several pile dwellings built around a large central building.
The bowl was found relatively close to the ground surface, near the
wall of one of the pile dwellings in the settlement. Measuring 5 cm high and 20
cm in diameter, it is made of a thin sheet of gold finely decorated in the repoussé
technique. The side of the bowl is features rows of concentric circles,
lozenges, and dots while the bottom has a radiating sun.
[Credit: Andreas Rausch, Novetus]
[Credit: Andreas Rausch, Novetus]
[Credit: Andreas Rausch, Novetus]
Inside the bowl were four objects: two gold bracelets made of twisted wire and two clumps of organic material, possibly fabric or leather. The fabric was stitched with gold thread, which was then rolled up - and wrapped with additional gold wire.
Archaeologists believe that the bowl and its contents may have been a
votive deposit. Indeed, in addition to this precious bowl, archaeologists found
nearly 500 bronze objects, including pins, knives, and daggers, as well as an
abundance of animal bones and ceramics, the arrangement of which seems to
indicate that they were deposited there over time.
[Credit: Andreas Rausch, Novetus]
Bronze knives discovered in the river bed or swamp [Credit: Andreas Rausch, Novetus]
According to archaeologists, the site would have been of ritual importance since it was located near a watercourse: it is, therefore, possible that these objects and animals were thrown into the water for religious purposes.
According to the head of the excavation, Polish archaeologist Michal Sip, this is one of the most important archaeological finds in Austria in recent decades. "I have worked on several continents, especially in Egypt and Guatemala, but I had never discovered anything like it," he commented.
He estimates that only around 30 similar bowls have been discovered across Europe. "This is the first find of its kind in Austria, and the second east of the Alpine line," the archaeologist explained. "Single vessels of this type have so far been discovered in Spain, France, and Switzerland. Certainly more are known from the area of northern Germany, Scandinavia, and Denmark - because they were made there," Dr. Sip added.
The bowl will soon be exhibited at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in
Vienna (Museum of Art History).
Source: PAP - Science in Poland
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