It comes from the Late Bronze Age — a time often linked to the Trojan War, famously told in Homer’s Iliad.
Brno City Museum describes this find as “extremely rare” and incredibly valuable. Its discovery was completely unexpected, making it only the second time ancient bronze armor has ever been found in the Czech Republic.
Thanks to advanced 3D scanning, they could digitally straighten out the folded metal, unveiling its real form and detailed embellishments.
Aleš Navrátil, an archaeologist at the Brno City Museum, stated that microscopic observations confirmed that a delicate ornament was part of a warrior’s chest armor.
It’s reported that the reconstructed bronze armor displays embossed wave patterns and a solar symbol around the chest. These elements are believed to be both decorative and potentially symbolic. The deliberate damage and burial of the armor, along with other valuable items, suggest it served a ceremonial or sacrificial purpose.
Burrying objects as offerings to deities or a chest plate has been dated to the Late Bronze Age, a tumultuous time spanning from 1600 to 1200 B.C.
The Trojan War is traditionally placed within this turbulent Late Bronze Age, specifically around the period of the collapse. Only the most “elite warriors” could afford bronze armor during this time, as it was a luxury.
Reportedly, non-elite soldiers would have relied on protective gear made from organic materials, which rarely survive the test of time. The discovery highlights the vital importance of collaboration between experts and the public.
“This find confirms the importance of long-term cooperation between experts and the public, which is crucial for our museum,” stated Zbyněk Šolc, museum director, in the translated statement. “Thanks to it, we can discover and protect valuable artifacts that bring us closer to ancient eras and bring new knowledge about our history,” Šolc added.