An ancient sword was accidentally discovered and opens a whole new chapter in a mysterious lost civilization. The holiday island of Mallorca in Spain is a famous destination for jet-setters, tourists, celebrities and just ordinary people who want a vacation on beautiful beaches under the hot sun. However, it may soon become the number one destination for a different kind of traveler: archaeologists eager to spot a recent and rare find on the island, a 3,200-year-old sword.
The precious artefact was recently discovered by a team of experts who were digging at the archaeological site of “Talaiot del Serralde ses Abelles”, in Puigpunyent, a municipality in Mallorca. The site is made up of several stone megaliths, dating from 1000 to 6000 BC. Menorca thousands of years ago. This is why the sword has been nicknamed “the Talayot sword”, some even going so far as to call it “Spanish Excalibur”.
Work has been underway on the site for decades, started by historian and archaeologist Guillem Bordoy in the 1950s. It was mid-September, when researchers were preparing the site’s museum to finally be open to visitors. , that the team found the sword, to their amazement and delight.
Iron Age fortified settlement and megaliths in Galicia, Spain. Photo by Anais Goepner CC via SA-4.0
Diario del Mallorca, one of the team’s researchers, told the Star of the day recently that the sword dates back to “1200 BC”.
The presence of the sword at this site had led scientists to conclude that it had probably been buried as part of some ceremony. For the culture that used it, the Talaiotic civilization, the sword may have been a weapon of defense. But due to its presence in this particular location, experts also believe that it may have been used as part of religious rituals as well.
Sword of the Talaiotic civilization found in Mallorca, Spain. Source: Diario de Mallorca
This sword is one of the many finds in Spain, around 10, usually by farm workers who have found them at random, working in a field, for example. Therefore, researchers could not place these others in any historical context, as they were found simply by chance. Therefore, these other swords, while valuable, could not be properly studied in terms of their historical use and why they were placed in certain places.
Although broken, the sword was very well preserved. (Image: Diario de Mallorca)
This sword changes those perceptions. It gives archaeologists and researchers new perspectives on the Talaiotic culture, which fell into decline and disappeared sometime after 600 BC. of a religious ceremony.
Related video:
https://youtu.be/6bnHuYqdEis
A full exhibit, including the sword and other relics from this ancient era in Spanish history, will soon be on display at the Mallorca Museum, giving viewers a glimpse into life in the Bronze Age.
Megaliths like the one found at Puigpunyent were believed to be primarily used for defense purposes, structures that helped repel enemies. Now, however, archaeologists view them in a larger context, thanks to the discovery of this sword, which they say was intentionally buried in the megalith.
The Guadalperal Dolmen or “Spanish Stonehenge”. Courtesy of Ruben Ortega Martin, Raices de Peraleda.
The team initially believed that this site had been fully excavated since excavations began in the 1950s. And so the discovery of the sword was “a huge surprise,” said Jaume Deya and Pablo Galera, the two principal investigators of the team, in an interview with the Star of the day.
They also noted that no other such historically significant artifact has been found at the site so far, and both expressed their joy – and a bit of astonishment – that they came across the site. old sword quite by accident. It was forged around 1200 BC.
Related article: The Sword in the Stone in Tuscany Turned Out to be Real and Likely an Inspiration for Excalibur
It is precisely this kind of discovery – something ancient, something revealing, something rare and revealing about the culture that used it – that are the prices archaeologists live for. The idea of finding a one-of-a-kind artifact like this 3,200-year-old sword, in such marvelous condition, keeps these diggers like sleuths struggling to solve a puzzling case.
25 Sep 2019
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Ancient “Talayot sword” found in stone megaliths reveals lost civilization
An ancient sword was accidentally discovered and opens a whole new chapter in a mysterious lost civilization. The holiday island of Mallorca in Spain is a famous destination for jet-setters, tourists, celebrities and just ordinary people who want a vacation on beautiful beaches under the hot sun. However, it may soon become the number one destination for a different kind of traveler: archaeologists eager to spot a recent and rare find on the island, a 3,200-year-old sword.
The precious artefact was recently discovered by a team of experts who were digging at the archaeological site of “Talaiot del Serralde ses Abelles”, in Puigpunyent, a municipality in Mallorca. The site is made up of several stone megaliths, dating from 1000 to 6000 BC. Menorca thousands of years ago. This is why the sword has been nicknamed “the Talayot sword”, some even going so far as to call it “Spanish Excalibur”.
Work has been underway on the site for decades, started by historian and archaeologist Guillem Bordoy in the 1950s. It was mid-September, when researchers were preparing the site’s museum to finally be open to visitors. , that the team found the sword, to their amazement and delight.
Iron Age fortified settlement and megaliths in Galicia, Spain. Photo by Anais Goepner CC via SA-4.0
Diario del Mallorca, one of the team’s researchers, told the Star of the day recently that the sword dates back to “1200 BC”.
The presence of the sword at this site had led scientists to conclude that it had probably been buried as part of some ceremony. For the culture that used it, the Talaiotic civilization, the sword may have been a weapon of defense. But due to its presence in this particular location, experts also believe that it may have been used as part of religious rituals as well.
Sword of the Talaiotic civilization found in Mallorca, Spain. Source: Diario de Mallorca
This sword is one of the many finds in Spain, around 10, usually by farm workers who have found them at random, working in a field, for example. Therefore, researchers could not place these others in any historical context, as they were found simply by chance. Therefore, these other swords, while valuable, could not be properly studied in terms of their historical use and why they were placed in certain places.
Although broken, the sword was very well preserved. (Image: Diario de Mallorca)
This sword changes those perceptions. It gives archaeologists and researchers new perspectives on the Talaiotic culture, which fell into decline and disappeared sometime after 600 BC. of a religious ceremony.
Related video:
https://youtu.be/6bnHuYqdEis
A full exhibit, including the sword and other relics from this ancient era in Spanish history, will soon be on display at the Mallorca Museum, giving viewers a glimpse into life in the Bronze Age.
Megaliths like the one found at Puigpunyent were believed to be primarily used for defense purposes, structures that helped repel enemies. Now, however, archaeologists view them in a larger context, thanks to the discovery of this sword, which they say was intentionally buried in the megalith.
The Guadalperal Dolmen or “Spanish Stonehenge”. Courtesy of Ruben Ortega Martin, Raices de Peraleda.
The team initially believed that this site had been fully excavated since excavations began in the 1950s. And so the discovery of the sword was “a huge surprise,” said Jaume Deya and Pablo Galera, the two principal investigators of the team, in an interview with the Star of the day.
They also noted that no other such historically significant artifact has been found at the site so far, and both expressed their joy – and a bit of astonishment – that they came across the site. old sword quite by accident. It was forged around 1200 BC.
Related article: The Sword in the Stone in Tuscany Turned Out to be Real and Likely an Inspiration for Excalibur
It is precisely this kind of discovery – something ancient, something revealing, something rare and revealing about the culture that used it – that are the prices archaeologists live for. The idea of finding a one-of-a-kind artifact like this 3,200-year-old sword, in such marvelous condition, keeps these diggers like sleuths struggling to solve a puzzling case.
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