Archaeologists Uncover Massive Celtic Settlement Treasure Trove in Czech Republic

In a remarkable archaeological discovery, an amateur metal detectorist's find of Roman cavalry swords has led to the unearthing of a 2,000-year-old settlement in Gloucestershire, England, including a villa and building remains. Meanwhile, in the Czech Republic, archaeologists have uncovered a treasure trove of artifacts from a long-lost Celtic settlement.

The Czech discovery, announced by the Museum of Eastern Bohemia in Hradec Králové, is being hailed as "exceptional" and "one of the largest assemblages of artifacts ever discovered in the country." Excavators found over 22,000 bags of artifacts, including gold and silver coins, amber, and evidence of luxury pottery production. The site dates back to the La Tène period, around the second century B.C., and served as a major trade and production center linking Central Europe to the ancient world.

Researchers were stunned by the sheer volume of artifacts packed into the soil, with the top layer holding more artifacts than the preserved structures below. Officials say the site's importance is comparable to the most significant central agglomerations known from the Middle Danube region and southern Germany, despite the fact that the settlement was unfortified.