Archaeologists uncover massive ancient site during rail project, including rare Roman find

Archaeologists in the Czech Republic uncovered more than 1,000 artifacts spanning multiple eras during railway construction work.Seen right, a Roman drawplate.(Archaeological Centre Olomouc, Andrea Šindlerová)

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Remains from two Bronze Age cultures — the Věteřov and Urnfield cultures — were found, along with evidence of theIron Age La Tène culture.

The earliest settlement dates to the Věteřov culture, with archaeologists uncovering the remains of wooden homes.The Věteřov and Urnfield cultures lived in the area in roughly 1800-1500 B.C.and 1300-800 B.C., respectively.

ANCIENT ROMAN FORT YIELDS 2,000-YEAR-OLD FRUIT THAT SURVIVED THE CENTURIES, PLUS OTHER TREASURES

“Following destructive fires, fragments of wall plaster survived as reddened fired clay, known as daub,” the statement noted.

“Some fragments show smoothed surfaces with traces of external decoration, while others preserve impressions of wattle on the inner side.”

“These finds … indicate the presence of a specialized bronze-working workshop.”

Archaeologist Pavel Moš said in a statement that the details of the houses were preserved in the daub, with some surface finishing traces still visible.

Excavators also found two Věteřov graves, including one containing an adult and a child, which will undergo analysis.

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Among the Urnfield culture remains, archaeologists unearthed four graves — as well as one with six human skulls “found placed side by side within the fill of the feature.”

They also found crucible fragments and stone molds used to craft bronze objects, as well as a small assemblage ofbronze artifacts, including axes, pins, a bracelet and a knife.

Excavations along a planned high-speed rail route revealed remains from the Bronze Age through the Roman era.(Archaeological Centre Olomouc, Andrea Šindlerová)

“These finds date to the end of the Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age and indicate the presence of a specialized bronze-working workshop,” the statement read.

Archaeologists also uncovered a lime kiln, likely used byGermanic tribes during the Roman erafor wall finishing or pottery decoration in the first to fourth centuries A.D.

The most unusual artifact was a Roman drawplate used to pull and thin the metal wire, officials said.

The discovery is considered rare in Central Europe.

Archaeologists uncovered stone molds used to shape bronze objects, pointing to specialized metalworking at the site.(Archaeological Centre Olomouc, Andrea Šindlerová)

Though the drawplate is considered well-preserved, archaeologist Pavel Moš noted that “corrosion residues are present in its perforations, and traces of drawn metal wires may be preserved.”

He added, “The drawplate will be subjected to spectrometric analysis to determine the material of the wire.”

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The draw wire, he went on, “could have been used, for example, in the production of chain mail.”

All artifacts will undergo lab analysis and preservation, with results expected to be released over time.

Excavators found graves linked to the Věteřov culture, including one burial containing both an adult and a child.(Archaeological Centre Olomouc, Andrea Šindlerová)

Thelatest discoveryfollows a similar one made by ACO archaeologists in the Czech Republic.

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Last year, officials announced they foundmultiple military gravesduring highway construction, with the oldest grave dating to the 1745 Battle of Žďár during the Second Silesian War.