tech
March 4, 2026
"Left as a gift to the deities": Massive 3,500-year-old bronze axe found in Switzerland
In a fortress on a rock in Burg in Laimen, volunteer Sasa Schneider found a massive bronze axe and a cloak brooch. A bronze sickle was found at this location as early as 1858. It is assumed that these objects were placed there 3,500 years ago as gifts to deities, and perhaps they were part of a larger hoard, the Archaeological Office of the Canton of Basel-Country announced.
TL;DR
- A large bronze axe (approx. 22 cm) and a cloak brooch were found by volunteer Sasa Schneider near a fortress in Burg, Laimen.
- These artifacts date to the Middle Bronze Age, around 1500 BC.
- A bronze sickle was previously discovered at the same location in 1858.
- Archaeologists hypothesize the items were placed as offerings to deities or were part of a larger treasure hoard.
- The axe was found in a rock crevice, suggesting it could be an individual offering.
- The location in Burg, near the Swiss-French border, was a significant connection point during the Bronze Age.
- Similar bronze artifacts, including axes of the 'Grenchen type,' have been found in the wider region, indicating a rich archaeological landscape.
- The newly discovered items will be exhibited at the Historical Museum in Basel.
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