Rare 2,500-Year-Old Neck Rings Found in Ritual Burial

In a remarkable archaeological find near Norrköping, Sweden, two rare wendel rings, dating back over 2,500 years, have been discovered within an ancient grave monument. These intricately twisted bronze neck rings are from the Late Bronze Age (c. 1100-500 BC), a period when the area was situated near the sea. The discovery, made during excavations ahead of a planned housing development, is considered highly unusual, as such rings are typically found in hoards, often in wetlands.

Excavation leader Alf Ericsson described the find as potentially unique, noting that discovering two neck rings together inside a burial monument is unprecedented in modern archaeological contexts. The well-preserved rings, though one is broken in half—likely as part of the original ritual process—offer significant insights into the culture of the time. Archaeologists also uncovered cremated human bones and house remains, indicating a complex and symbolically rich culture inhabited the site.