Gold Spirals Uncovered in Denmark

A heap of 2,000 twisted gold spirals that resemble the story book queen Rapunzel's gold locks were recently discovered in Denmark.

Archaeologists found the 3,000-year-old fragile, glistening circles — each one of these testing as much as 1.2 inches (3 centimeters) lengthy — in the city of Boeslunde, on the Danish Area of Zealand, which hosts nearly 50% of Denmark's population.

Like Rapunzelis marvelous locks, the Bronzeage gold spirals might have had a sunlight-produced energy, the archaeologists said. "The sun was among the many holy icons in the Bronze-Age and gold had a miracle," Flemming Kaul, a curator at The National Museum of Denmark who co-found the gold, stated in a declaration which was converted from the original Danish. [View Pictures of the Newly Discovered Gold Spirals]

Though the spirals' original use is unfamiliar, it is possible they decorated wires that adorned caps and parasols, Kaul stated. "The truth is that people don't understand, but I often think they were section of a priest masteris outfit or headgear," he explained.

It is possible the priest master decked herself in gold, embellishing his hide and cap with the spirals. "Gold has the shade of the sun, it's glowing like the sun, which is indestructible, immortal and endless," Kaul stated. The priest master might have diminished his prize to the sunlight during traditions, and held the gold secure in a wooden container when he was experiencing less reverential, he included.

Holy area

Kaul believes contemporary-day Boeslunde was once a holy location for historic people during the Bronze-Age, since the website located traditions where people provided gold to their gods.

The excavation site spread over a in Boeslunde, where archaeologists discovered the large group of spirals, in addition to smaller packages of three and four circles. The group probably initially seated in a birch timber container with a leather coating, centered on remains available at the picture, the scientists said.

The current breakthrough of just over half a lb (200 to 300 grams) of gold contributes to Boeslundeis developing status as the gold money of upper Europe during the Bronze-Age.

"It suggests that the location had a importance for the Bronze-Age individuals once they made a decision to compromise many lbs of gold," said Kirsten Christensen, the fantastic spirals' additional co-discoverer and curator at the Memorial Vestsjælland on Zealand.

Prior excavations in Boeslunde discovered 10 gold rings, six which were big and large and four which might have been "pledge rings" — perhaps utilized in reference to swearing oaths in surfaces andtypically present in sacrificial configurations, Kaul stated.

In the 1800s, nearby producers discovered six gold ships at Borgbjerg Banke, about 1,640 legs (500 yards) from the present historical site. The 10 bands consider just under 8 lbs (3.5 kilograms) and the ships, including containers and beakers, consider significantly more than 2 lbs (1 kg).

Christensen and Kaul believe you will find more items awaiting breakthrough in Boeslunde, with assistance from their particular galleries they intend to continue their search, armed with metal sensors, in the foreseeable future.