Javorník museum exhibits 3000 year old bronze sword examined by UP Faculty of Science experts

Photo: Faculty of Science archives
Wednesday 4 January 2023, 15:00 – Text: Šárka Chovancová

The unique bronze sword, which the Department of Analytical Chemistry of the Faculty of Science was involved in its research, is on display until mid-January in the museum in the building of the former regional court in Javorník. The 3,000-year-old artifact was discovered by a random passer-by near Stará Červená Voda in the Jeseníky region in 2020.

In June 2020, a resident of Stará Červená Voda contacted the staff of the Museum of National History in Jeseník saying that he had found a bronze sword and an axe. Both items date back to approximately 1300 years BCE, i.e. the Bronze Age. The sword was broken. It was examined by experts from several workplaces throughout the Czech Republic.

The Department of Analytical Chemistry was invited to participate shortly after the discovery. “The sword was encased in clay and was not contaminated or damaged in any way, so we were able to take several samples from the microscopic areas. The substances identified showed the presence of cellulose, which means that the sword was probably stored in some kind of plant fiber textile. Otherwise, we did not find any other organic substances, such as the haemoglobin, which would indicate its practical use,” said Lukáš Kučera from the Department of Analytical Chemistry.

The soil samples were also sent for study to the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Telč. They confirmed that the samples taken were consistent with the microscopic particles on the surface of the sword and that the find came from the place of destination.

Once a special display case has been made, the sword and the axe will be relocated to the Water Fortress in Jeseník, where the Jeseník Museum of National History is housed.

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