Ancient iron bars unearthed in Austria reveal trade routes
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Workers at a gravel pit in Deinham, Austria, uncovered over 500 iron bars dating back to 300 to 100 B.C.
The discovery, made along the Danube river in the municipality of Hartkirchen, represents the largest collection of iron bars from the Iron Age ever found in Europe. Archaeologist Peter Trebsche of the University of Innsbruck believes a ship carrying the bars sank near Deinham, accounting for the concentration of artifacts in one location.
The iron bars are shaped with pointed ends, a characteristic of the La-Tène period, which allowed people to assess the iron’s quality. During this time, from the mid-5th to the 1st century B.C., iron production increased across Europe as Celtic tribes established settlements and engaged in trade. Researchers estimate the bars could have been used to create around 500 swords and suggest the sheer quantity indicates a large-scale transaction.
Trebsche’s team is now working to determine the origin of the iron ore and the intended destination of the bars. They suspect the ore came from Bavaria, Germany, and the bars were destined for settlements near Linz, Austria, where fortified towns had a high demand for iron. The iron bars are now stored at an archaeological depot in Linz, and Trebsche hopes to eventually display them to the public.
