(source: Oliver Ondráš, TASR)
Archaeologists found a unique discovery in the village of Hozelec near Poprad. They have discovered many various materials from several time eras in a locality called Dubina in a ground bank. The most precious are the Bronze-era jewelry, possible to date from the Middle to Late Bronze Age.
Matúš Hudák, archaeologist of Spiš Museum in Spišská Nová Ves, said that Celtic clips are also an interesting part of the discovery.
“We found, for example, a spur, a needle and horseshoes from the late eras as well as coins, so-called solidus from modern history and various jewels, knives and other objects that someone probably lost,” said Hudák, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
Leather from the Bronze Age
The treasure itself consists of jewelry of Bronze spirals and tin funnel-shaped hangers that were probably put into the ground in a leather package with three Bronze disk-like objects sewed to the top. The remains of organic leather material that is about 3000 years old were kept between them and the jewelry.
“The remains of leather straps were also preserved inside of spirals and hangers. We saw at the beginning that close to the jewelry there was a darker soil that indicated the possible decomposition of organic material,” Mária Hudákova, archaeologist, said for TASR.
The discovery was transported to the Technical Museum in Brno, where it underwent laboratory examination followed by preservation.
“It required about 80 hours of work, we cleaned each of the artefacts,” said Martin Hložek from Technical Museum Brno, as quoted by TASR.
Priceless discovery
The most precious artefacts are made from bronze, he added, with several unique aspects about them. The funnel-like hangers are made from white metal and bronze usually has a golden colour. Hložek explains that the white colour may be either the result of the proportion of the chemical elements or advanced technologies, as the etching of the metal in organic acid or warming it to a higher temperature.
“It is the proof of advanced metallurgic technologies that people did not often use and it is unique,” Hložek pointed out, as quoted by TASR.
The significance of the Hozelec discovery exceeds the borders of the region. It is unique also thanks to the second discovery of leather in Slovakia from the Bronze Age.
The research was the first in the history of Spiš Museum in last 40 years. It was carried out from April to July, a significant discovery revealed at the beginning. Hudáková added that it was partly coincidence and they were very happy about it.
The historical value of the treasure is priceless. Zuzana Krempaská, director of the Spiš Museum, said that the discovery will be located in reconstructed Provinčný Dom in Spišská Nová Ves. The finding will be presented in the History of Spiš exhibition.
