Unique Bronze Age Sword Mold Found in Bavaria
A unique 3000-year-old stone mold for casting bronze swords, the first of its kind in Bavaria, was discovered near Großeibstadt.
A unique half of a bronze sword casting mold, offering direct proof of weapon production in the Urnfield culture, was uncovered near Großeibstadt. Archaeologists discovered two rare stone casting molds for a sword and a jewelry pendant from the Bronze Age Urnfield culture, which spanned from 1300 to 800 B.C., in Lower Franconia, Bavaria. The intact half of a mold for a tanged sword is unique on Bavaria’s archaeological record.
This mold is the first of its kind found in the region and provides direct evidence of Bronze Age weapon production techniques. The casting mold dates back approximately 3000 years and was used to produce bronze swords. It consists of one completely preserved half designed for casting swords with narrow tangs. A second stone mold found at the same settlement indicates production of both swords and decorative ornaments. The casting molds are evidence that a bronze caster worked his trade at the site around 3,000 years ago.
Large Urnfield Hoard Found in Chiemgau
A significant late Urnfield period hoard containing 52 rings, axes, and other bronze items was discovered near Grabenstätt and studied through 2026. A metal detectorist found several bronze objects in a field near Grabenstätt in the Chiemgau region of Upper Bavaria in October 2024. The metal detectorist documented each find in detail and reported them to the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation (BLfD).
The objects were part of a late Urnfield period hoard, dating to approximately 880-800 B.C., that was likely scattered by later agricultural work. Throughout 2025 and 2026, the finder, coordinated by the BLfD, surveyed the site and discovered more pieces. The final tally of the hoard was one of the largest and most varied of the period found in southern Bavaria.
The BLfD considers the Grabenstätt hoard one of the most comprehensive known in Southern Bavaria from the same period. The collection includes the following items:
| Object Type | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Solid arm and leg rings | 52 |
| Flanged axes | 2 |
| Fragments of a sheet-bronze arm ring | 1 set |
| Parts of at least one bronze cup | 1 set |
| Plate-sized cast ingot | 1 |
Legal Framework and Rewards
A legislative change in July 2023 transferred ownership of relevant archaeological finds to the state of Bavaria. The amended Bavarian Monument Protection Act went into effect on July 1, 2023. Before that date, archaeological artifacts in Bavaria were subject to 'Hadrianic division,' meaning objects belonged 50/50 to the finder and the landowner. Under the new law, all archaeological artifacts belong to the state.
Finders and landowners are entitled to a reward if the market value exceeds 1000 euros and the object was recovered in keeping with the law. Payments were made to landowners and finders for artifacts valued over 1,000 euros, including the two molds in Großeibstadt and the Grabenstätt hoard. The discoveries emphasize Bavaria’s role as a vital hub of metalworking during the Bronze Age.
The artifacts suggest the area's importance in trade and cultural exchanges. The sword casting mold was officially presented on November 11, 2026, in Munich at a joint event by the Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments and the Archaeological Society of Munich. BLfD coordinated detailed analysis of these artifacts throughout 2025 and 2026. The final tally of the Grabenstätt hoard, including 52 rings, two axes, and a large casting ingot, was confirmed through surveys conducted in 2025 and 2026.
