To protect a priceless octagonal sword, German researchers used computed tomography to see inside the hilt without causing a single scratch.
Archaeologists in southern Germany have unearthed a rare, octagonal Bronze Age sword worthy of legend. Using state-of-the-art technology, they determined how ancient blacksmiths forged this exceptional piece of craftsmanship, providing unique insights into the techniques that earned the weapon its reputation.
Back in 2023, archaeologists stumbled upon a famous Achtkantschwert—an eight-edged sword native to southern Germany. As they removed the priceless object from the grave, it gleamed in the light; its preserved metallic glints evoked the legend of King Arthur.According to LBV, the sword traveled from Bavaria to Berlin inside a padded box. There, researchers set out to determine how the hilt and blade were joined, as well as the composition of the materials embedded in the grooves of the pommel and pommel plate.“It was very complex to produce such swords. We wanted to find out how the hilt was attached to the blade back then and how the recognizable patterns were incorporated,” said lead researcher Beate Herbold in a press release.However, archaeologists faced a significant challenge—how to penetrate its secrets without destroying it in the process?Finely worked sword pommel / Kevin Fuchs / HZBIs it King Arthur’s sword? Because of its exceptional state of preservation, the blade remained sharp, according to Archaeology News. So, archaeologists had to tailor their methods to study this remarkable Achtkantschwert .Turning to two esteemed institutions in Berlin—the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung—the BLfD utilized the BESSY II synchrotron radiation source, LBV continued.Using computed tomography, researchers created a three-dimensional X-ray model showing that the blade extends into the hilt as a tang. The blacksmith clamped this tang into the hilt and secured it with rivets, reported Archaeology News.The advanced technology peered even deeper into the sword, revealing that the craftsmanship around the pommel was truly awesome. The grooves on the handle contained an entirely different material. At first, researchers thought it must be tin due to its malleability.However, the X-rays revealed that the maker had inlaid copper wires, further demonstrating just how remarkable this sword was, as decorating with this metal would have required a master craftsman to achieve the contrast between the reddish copper and the golden bronze.“This was a surprise,” added Herbold in a press release, “which also shows how highly developed the craftsmanship already was back then.”“In some places, traces of tin and also some lead, presumably from the bronze alloy, were also detected.”“We know of such inlay work with copper wire in bronze from other finds,” continued researcher Dr. Johann-Friedrich Tolksdorf.“To make the reddish copper stand out better against the golden bronze, it may have been patinated, that is, chemically blackened, for example, with urine.”Researchers believe the swordsmith used patina to create this visual contrast, as noted by Archaeology News.The legend continuesThe investigation is far from over. Archaeologists expect to gain even more insights into the workshops behind the treasured weapon and the techniques used during the Bronze Age in southern Germany.“Through the most modern measurement methods, we can understand how metal was worked almost three and a half millennia ago, with astonishing precision and highly developed skills,” Prof. Mathias Pfeil, General Conservator of the BLfD, concluded in Ancient Origins.
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