In a rare incident that astonished both the local community and the archaeological community, two hikers accidentally stumbled upon a valuable gold treasure buried in a forest in the Krkonoše Mountains, northeastern Czech Republic.
The treasure, which was kept inside an aluminum box hidden in a stone wall, contained a large number of precious items, including:
598 gold coins weighing a total of approximately 3.7 kilograms
10 gold bracelets
17 cigar boxes
A comb and a box of compressed powder
The hikers, who preferred to remain anonymous, immediately delivered the treasure to the Museum of East Bohemia in Hradec Králové, where the documentation and study of the items began under the supervision of a team of archaeologists.
Question marks surround the provenance.
A preliminary analysis indicates that the coins are no more than 100 years old, with the most recent dated 1921. However, what is puzzling is the absence of any local coins. Half of the coins came from the Balkans and the other half from France, while there are no German or Czech coins at all, a finding experts have described as "unusual" for finds from that era.
Between History and Hypotheses
Experts believe the hoard is likely linked to one of the following historical events:
The exodus of Czech and Jewish residents from the border regions prior to World War II
Or the withdrawal of German residents after the end of the war in 1945
Among the hypotheses circulating among the public are the possibility that the hoard belonged to noble families such as the Swierz-Szbork family, or that it was war booty captured by Czechoslovak soldiers.
Academic Perspective
Commenting on the event, Professor Mary Hayman, Professor of History at Cardiff University, said that 1921 witnessed severe political and economic turmoil in Central Europe, including the signing of the Treaty of Riga and the end of the Polish-Soviet War, as well as economic recession and unemployment in Czechoslovakia.
“The area where the treasure was found lies on ethnic borders that were constantly tense, and those who hid these items may have felt threatened and chosen to hide them,” Hayman added.
The Treasure’s Next Destination
Under Czech law, archaeological finds are considered state property, and the finder is entitled to a financial reward based on their material and historical value. Officials confirmed that the museum will display the items in a temporary exhibition next fall, following the completion of a full metallurgical analysis and final assessment.
Two cigar boxes remain sealed, adding further mystery to this extraordinary find, which may reveal new secrets from Europe’s dark past.
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