This find “is the largest treasure since 1949. in the Freiburg area,” said Andreas Haasis-Berner, an archaeologist at the State Office for the Protection of Monuments in Stuttgart.
The found treasure tells of how mining and coinage were practiced in the area 650 years ago, according to a translated statement from the Stuttgart Regional Council.
Back in 1949 archaeologists found about 5,000 coins in Freiburg dating to around 1280, but no medieval coins were found in Glottertal, about 10 km northeast of Freiburg. Glottertal is located in the Black Forest Mountains, an area famous for its picturesque valleys and dark pine forests, full of orchards and vineyards.
Freiburg was founded by the Zaringen dynasty, which ruled from around 1120-1218. After the end of the Zaringen family, the city was taken over by the Urach family.
“Glottertal was one of the most important mining areas of the Dukes of Freiburg,” said A. Haasis-Berner. “The location where the coins were found was a major settlement area for miners who unearthed metals such as silver.”
In May, A. Haasis-Berner received a call from Glottertal resident Claus Volker, who said he had found several coins during construction. The visiting team of archaeologists managed to unearth over 1,500 coins in the area.
In the 14th century, when the coins were minted, “they could buy around 150 sheep,” Haasis-Berner said in a statement.
After the initial cleaning of the coins, experts determined that the coins were most likely minted in 1320.
The new find adds to four similar hoards of coins previously found in the larger region that date back to 1320, Haasis-Berner said. “With these treasures, we can learn what coins were common,” he added.
It is also important that the latest find reveals details about Glotertal’s medieval history and economy, the archaeologist noted.
“After evaluating this hoard of coins, we will be able to draw conclusions about coin circulation in Breisgau, minting activities in mints, silver trade, as well as mining in Glottertal,” explained A. Haasis-Berner.
Parengta pagal „Live Science“.
2024-08-17 02:30:07