Massive Stash of Iron Age Weapons Reveals Victory Rituals
A massive Iron Age weapons armory has been discovered in North Rhine-Westphalia at Wildenberg Castle, Germany, the biggest find of its kind ever. Archaeologists from the reputed Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe (LWL) in Lippstadt, who’ve been working on this site for more than 3 years, have dated most of the finds in the Iron Age weapons stash to between 300 BC and the first century BC.
In a translated statement released on March 31
st of this year, Michael Baales, one of the archaeologists on the LWL team and head of the Olpe branch in North-Rhine Westphalia said, “The arsenal is the largest in [the German state of] North Rhine-Westphalia and also links the [state s region of] Sauerland with complex processes in Iron Age Europe.”
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In an interview with
Live Science, Manuel Zeiler, who is an archaeologist at the Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe (LWL), said that over 150 objects were unearthed at an ancient hillfort that included weapons that were deliberately bent (this was actually very common in ancient times as the victorious Iron Age warrior would have deliberately bent the loser’s weapon). These weapons included 40 spearhead and lancehead tips, fragments of shield bosses, and swords. Other items uncovered were belt hooks, tools, horse gear, bronze jewelry, and three silver coins. There was even a fibula bone found.
A rare type of horse bridle was one of the most interesting items found as the LWL explained, “The existing handle parts for guiding the horse suggest that this type of bridle was used on horses that were pulling a chariot.” “The bit allowed the horse to be steered very precisely and directly vital for a warrior on a chariot in the thick of a battle.”
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