3.000-year-old sword discovered in Germany

By Olivia Logan

An astonishingly well-preserved, 3.000-year-old Bronze Age sword has been unearthed by archaeologists at a grave site in Bavaria.

Bronze Age sword discovered in Bavaria

An ancient sword from the Bronze Age has been discovered at a grave site about 130 kilometres northwest of Munich, in Nördlingen, one of only three German towns which still have their medieval city walls. The sword has been so well preserved under the earth for the past 3.000 years that officials say it “almost still shines”. 

According to the Bavarian body in charge of preserving historical artefacts, the BLfD, the sword was made at the end of the 14th century BC. The green-tinged weapon was found in a grave with a man, a woman and a boy, who were buried within quick succession from one another - whether the three people are a family is still unclear.

Near intact sword was a rare find

Speaking to the dpa, head of the BLfD Mathias Pfeil said that such a well-preserved discovery was very rare.

“The sword and the burial still need to be examined so that our archaeologists can categorise this find more precisely. But we can already say that the state of preservation is extraordinary.”

Thumb image credit: oliverfoerschner / Shutterstock.com

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
follow us for regular updates:

Olivia Logan

Editor at IamExpat Media

Editor for Germany at IamExpat Media. Olivia first came to Germany in 2013 to work as an Au Pair. Since studying English Literature and German in Scotland, Freiburg and Berlin she has worked as a features journalist and news editor.Read more

For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.