Ancient iron cache unearthed in Austria reveals trade capacity
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Workers in Deinham, Austria, discovered a large collection of iron bars while extracting gravel near the Danube River in 2019.
Archaeologists Peter Trebsche and Marion Berranger studied the find and determined the 540 bars, or fragments of bars, represent semi-finished products made around 2,200 years ago, possibly dating back to the 4th century BCE.
The iron, weighing about a tonne (2,280 pounds), could have been used to create around 500 swords or 8,000 nails, indicating a substantial capacity for iron production in the Danube region during the Late Iron Age. Researchers believe the iron was intended for transport and reworking, representing a significant exchange transaction. The bars’ bipyramidal shape, pointed at both ends, aided in easy handling.
While the exact origin and destination of the iron remain unknown, the researchers suggest the cargo likely traveled on specialized boats and may have been traded for goods like slaves, cattle, or precious metals. The team identified potential iron-smelting regions upstream along the Danube, approximately 220 kilometers (137 miles) away, that could have been the source of the iron.
Further analysis of the metal will help pinpoint the mining locations and determine if the bars originated from a single source or multiple sites. Trebsche expressed gratitude that the find was reported to authorities rather than sold for scrap.
