Home / Science / Iron Age Shipwreck Found: Europe's Largest Iron Hoard Discovered
Iron Age Shipwreck Found: Europe's Largest Iron Hoard Discovered
31 Oct
Summary
- Over 500 Iron Age iron bars, weighing over a metric ton, were discovered.
- The find, Europe's largest Iron Age iron collection, suggests a possible shipwreck.
- Iron bars likely date to the 3rd or 2nd century B.C. and may be from Bavaria.
Europe's largest known collection of Iron Age iron bars, consisting of over 500 pieces and weighing more than a metric ton, was discovered in Austria. Found during gravel extraction work in Deinham, these bars are estimated to date from the third or second century B.C.
Archaeologists suggest the valuable cargo might have been lost in a shipwreck on the Danube River over two millennia ago. While no ship remains were found, the quantity and condition of the bars support this shipwreck theory.
Initially discovered in 2019, the iron bars could have been used to forge around 500 swords. Researchers believe the iron was likely forged in Bavaria, Germany, and transported along the Danube River.
This remarkable discovery provides new insights into the scale of ancient iron production and trade. The find is considered ten times larger than other known Iron Age iron hoard discoveries from the period.
