The octagonal sword still gleams after 3,000 years.

A team of archaeologists from Germany unearthed a rare sword in a tomb containing the remains of three people from the late 14th century BC.

The sword, over 3,000 years old, may have been crafted by a skilled blacksmith. Photo: Bronzezeitliches Schwert

German archaeologists have unearthed a sword from a Bronze Age tomb. The weapon is in such good condition that it still gleams. The more than 3,000-year-old sword was discovered in the Bavarian town of Nördlingen, in a tomb containing the remains of a man, a woman, and a child. It appears the three were buried together, but the research team is unsure if they were related, according to an announcement on June 14th by the Bavarian Antiquities Authority.

The weapon has an octagonal hilt cast from a copper-containing alloy, now tinged with green due to the oxidation of the copper upon contact with air and water. Archaeologists have determined the sword dates back to the late 14th century BC. Swords from this period are rare in the region because many Bronze Age tombs have been looted over the millennia.

Only skilled blacksmiths could create this octagonal sword. The hilt has two rivets, cast over the blade using a technique called overcasting. However, the blade shows no visible cuts or signs of wear, suggesting it was a ceremonial or symbolic object. Even so, it was likely usable as a weapon, as the center of gravity at the front of the blade indicated it could effectively cut an opponent.

Researchers say there are two production areas for octagonal swords in Germany. One is located in southern Germany, while the other is in northern Germany and Denmark. The team of experts is not yet sure where the newly discovered sword came from. "The sword and the tomb still need to be examined so that our archaeologists can classify the find more accurately," said Mathias Pfeil, head of the Bavarian Antiquities Authority.

An Khang (According to Live Science )

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