Archaeologists from the Hungarian National Museum unearthed a trove of over 900 metal objects on Somló Hill in western Hungary, many of which are over 3,400 years old. The discovery sheds new light on the lives of communities that inhabited the region from the 13th to the 6th century BCE.
Among the most notable finds are six metal hoards containing bronze pieces, ingots, casting pipes, and other objects related to metalworking. This suggests that Somló Hill may have been a center for bronze production during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. The artifacts range from ornate jewelry to military decorations and weapons, providing valuable insights into the craftsmanship and societal structures of the time.
"The wealth and diversity of the findings, especially in the Early Iron Age, suggest a society where elite warriors may have held authority over the surrounding regions," researchers explained. In addition to metal artifacts, archaeologists discovered amber beads, fragments of textiles and leather, and tusks of wild boars and domestic pigs.
The strategic location of Somló Hill, an extinct volcano rising 431 meters above the surrounding landscape, made it an ideal site for ancient settlements. Its prominence attracted archaeological interest since the 19th century, but only recently was the full extent of its importance understood. Earlier excavations uncovered monumental burial mounds from the Early Iron Age, indicating the existence of complex social structures and powerful communities ruled by elite warriors.
"This is one of the largest concentrations of metal artifacts of the Hallstatt culture in Central Europe," said Bence Soós, the archaeologist who led the expedition, according to Gazeta.ru. The Hallstatt culture, known for its metalworking, was previously associated mainly with territories in Germany and Austria. The discoveries on Somló Hill are changing perceptions of the boundaries of this influential culture.
Researchers believe that some items were deliberately placed on the hilltop, possibly as part of complex storage or offering rituals. Some objects were carefully buried in ceramic vessels, a practice uncharacteristic for that era. "Arrangements of metal objects, especially those found in ceramic vessels, may indicate a ritualistic practice involving the burial of valuable items," the team noted.
Many items related to bronze working indicate that local workshops on Somló Hill were actively engaged in processing tools and decorative items. Although the existence of a production workshop has not been definitively confirmed, building fragments and numerous castings and semi-finished products suggest craftsmanship skills among the inhabitants.
The artifacts were found scattered throughout Somló Hill. Over the years, studies using metal detectors and LiDAR mapping techniques revealed an area dense with objects. The inclusion of non-metallic items in the hoards, such as amber beads and animal teeth, suggests these objects held cultural or religious significance, reinforcing the idea of ritualistic practices.
"The discoveries suggest that Somló Hill was not only a site of ritual but also a seat of power for the elite of the time," researchers stated. These findings are consistent with a broader pattern observed in other hilltop settlements of the era, often centers for elite groups that controlled land and resources. The wealth and diversity of the findings indicate a society where elite warriors likely led tribal communities in the region.
Future work will focus on analyzing the chronology of settlement and traditions of metal deposition, including radiocarbon analysis of organic remains. Precise documentation of the finds, including photogrammetry and computed tomography, allows for detailed analysis of deposition practices and the social structure of contemporary communities. Further research may provide even more information about the life and customs of communities inhabiting the region over three thousand years ago.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.
