A group of archaeologists and forensic researchers in the eastern German city of Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, announced Tuesday that after reexamining the bones of the prince of Helmsdorf they have concluded that he was murdered. The attack, carried out 3,846 years ago, is now the world's oldest known political murder.

The forensic examination took place at the urging of Kai Michel, who co-authored a new book on the Nebra Sky Disc with Saxony-Anhalt State Archaeologist Harald Meller. The two suggest that the Bronze Age Unetice culture, which produced the disc depicting the cosmos, was the first high culture to evolve north of the Alps.

Speaking of the importance of the examination, Kai Michel says: "Ultimately we are dealing with the only known remains of someone directly linked to the Nebra Sky Disc. And as far as we can tell, we have now found evidence of the oldest political assassination in history."

13 recent archaeological finds in Germany A 'forged' sky The Nebra sky disc was seen as a sensational archaeological find, believed to feature the world's oldest known depiction of a cosmic phenomenon. It was found by treasure-hunters with a metal detector in Saxony-Anhalt in 1999. First estimated to be 3,600 years old, German researchers are now questioning that dating.

13 recent archaeological finds in Germany The most ancient depiction of a human being The Venus of Hohle Fels was discovered in 2008 in a cave in southwestern Germany. The nearly six-centimeter ivory figurine is believed to have been worn as an amulet. It is dated to between 35,000 and 40,000 years ago, making it the oldest known depiction of a human being in prehistoric art.

13 recent archaeological finds in Germany A mighty hat Three of the world's four known Golden Hats from the Bronze Age (1000 BC) were shown at a 2019 exhibition at Berlin's Gropius Bau museum. They served as a symbol for deities and priests in a sun cult that was practiced in Central Europe during that period. Made of thin gold leaf, the hats are presumed to have covered a similarly-shaped headdress made of organic material.

13 recent archaeological finds in Germany The treasures of Cologne's wharf area Archaeologists uncovered thousands of finds — including these oil lamps from the first century A.D. — in the mud on the site of the former Roman port in Cologne. At the time, the newly established Roman settlement was an important trade center, where one could easily find goods from North Africa, Pompeii or Aquitaine. A 1,900-year-old Roman boat was also discovered in Cologne in 2007.

13 recent archaeological finds in Germany The secrets of a Celtic princess At the end of 2010, a complete early Celtic tomb of a noblewoman was retrieved from the earth near the southern German town of Herbertingen. It contained bronze and gold jewelry that were imported from afar. The find provided further evidence that trade with the rest of Europe was already strong by the sixth century BC.

13 recent archaeological finds in Germany Roman luxury in the grave A particular Roman tomb was discovered in the town of Haltern, in North Rhine-Westphalia. It contained, along with the remains of a man, an intricate bone-carved kline, which is a bed for the dead. The kline was transported from Italy to Germany to guarantee Roman luxury even after death. The 1,900-year-old deathbed was reconstructed from thousands of fragments.

13 recent archaeological finds in Germany The 'Swiss knife' of the Stone Age The hand axe, the longest-used tool in human history, was already in circulation around two million years ago in Africa. The hand axes found in Eurasia were much younger however, dated back to 600,000 years ago. The all-round tool was likely to have different functions such as chopping, cutting, scraping, hitting and even throwing. This piece of flint stone is at most 35,000 years old.

13 recent archaeological finds in Germany Rider on the firestorm This bronze rider was among the 11 sculptures unearthed in Berlin's historical center in 2010, a discovery known as the Berlin Sculpture Find. The 1933-34 sculpture by Fritz Wrampe, listed as "degenerate art" by the Nazis, was believed irretrievably lost. The works removed from museums were however stored by the Nazis in a depot. The rider was deformed by the heat of WWII bombings on Berlin.

13 recent archaeological finds in Germany Europe's oldest battlefield At the end of the 1990s, thousands of human bones and weapons were unearthed along the Tollense River in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It turned out to be the oldest archaeologically verifiable battlefield in Europe discovered to date. Though it remains unclear where they were all from, the warriors traveled great distances to join the battle. Several of the 3,300-year-old artifacts are shown in Berlin.

13 recent archaeological finds in Germany An magician's laboratory At the end of 2012, pots, cups, retorts and distillation stills — an entire laboratory — were found in Wittenberg, the city of Renaissance alchemist Dr. Faustus. The artifacts were however broken into 10,000 pieces. Pieced back together, they revealed the oldest known laboratory in Europe, dating back to 1520-1540.

13 recent archaeological finds in Germany An ancient protective decoration An incredible find was discovered near Lake Constance in southern Germany: a Neolithic decoration on clay plaster. It shows that humans were already heavily decorating their houses by 4000 BC. The segment that was displayed in Berlin is believed to be a complex depiction of ancestors or deities that were to protect the house.

13 recent archaeological finds in Germany Christ in the grave Pilgrim badges were worn in the Middle Ages by Roman Catholics as souvenirs of their pilgrimage, and some of them took their badge with them to the grave. This lead alloy pilgrim badge from the 13th-14th century was found in Harburg (today part of Hamburg). It shows Christ riding on a donkey.

13 recent archaeological finds in Germany 900 grams of hacksilver In 2005, a hiker in Upper Lusatia happened to find an important trove of silver, known as the Cortnitz hoard. Most of the coins and silver jewelry pieces from the 11th century were hacked. The fragments came from Bohemia and Moravia, but also from Bulgaria, Scandinavia and even Baghdad. Hacked fragments of silver served as currency before official coinage was established. Author: Klaus Krämer (eg)



The work of an experienced warrior

Although anthropologists inspecting the prince's bones in 2012 suspected signs of injury, they were unable to find conclusive evidence. But on Tuesday, Frank Ramsthaler, deputy director of the University of Saarland Institute for Forensic Medicine, said: "We have been able to verify three clear injuries to the bones. There were likely more injuries, but all three of those we confirmed would have been lethal. The murder weapon may have been a dagger, the blade of which would have to have been at least 15 centimeters (just under 6 inches) long."

Ramsthaler said the prince was likely stabbed by a powerful and experienced warrior who thrust his dagger through the prince's stomach and into his spine, as evidenced by a six millimeter wide and three millimeter deep wound in the eleventh thoracic vertebra. Ramsthaler says the intensity of the injury indicates that the prince would have been stabbed as he stood against the wall, or perhaps while lying on the floor. The forensic scientist says the stabbing would also have severed arteries, leading to certain death.

Archaeologist Meller says a second injury, which came from above and behind the collarbone, splitting the prince's left shoulder blade and likely seriously injuring veins and portions of the lungs, "suggests an experienced warrior," pointing out, "That's also where Roman gladiators would set their death blow."

Bloody gold and deadly weapons Bloody gold Plunderers thoroughly looted most of the bodies following the battle, but they missed these gold rings. Though they may shine in their original glory today, they still bear – symbolic – traces of blood. The special exhibition "Bloody Gold – Power and Violence in the Bronze Age" ran until September 18, 2018 in the Gross Raden Archaeological Open Air Museum.

Bloody gold and deadly weapons Deadly projectiles The battle in the Tollense River Valley was one of life or death. This image shows a selection of bronze arrow tips that have been discoveredon the site. Around 90 percent of the battlegrounds in the region in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have yet to be dug up by curious archaeologists.

Bloody gold and deadly weapons Death in the Bronze Period Apparently, this young man did not see death coming his way. This image shows why: An arrow pierced the back of his head. The bronze arrow tip is still stuck in the skull, thereby relaying a story over 3,000 years old.

Bloody gold and deadly weapons Men's fashion in the Bronze Age It may be hard to believe, but this delicately designed bracelet was worn by a man. The bracelet was found in a man's grave discovered in Promoisel. Only one other such ring has ever been found – on the Danish island of Bornholm.

Bloody gold and deadly weapons Sacrificial offering in the Bronze Age? This bronze belt purse is clearly a feminine fashion accessory. But since only the skeletons of men have been found at the battlegrounds in the Tollense River Valley, it is possible that this was a sacrificial offering that sunk in the river following the battle. But maybe someone also just lost it. Some mysteries may never be solved.

Bloody gold and deadly weapons Sounds in the Bronze Age This "Horn of Wismar" is not an artifact from the battle on the riverbanks of the Tollense River, but it was manufactured around the same time. This magnificent specimen has metal fittings on which soldiers are depicted who are carrying spears and shields. The horn was discovered more than 100 years ago near Wismar.

Bloody gold and deadly weapons Chieftain's brooch The special exhibition "Bloody Gold" at the Gross Raden Open Air Museum presents the complete contents of several graves. One of those includes the chieftain's grave of Crivitz, which also contained this gold brooch. Only eight such brooches have been discovered thus far, most of them in Denmark.

Bloody gold and deadly weapons Curious mix from the Bronze Age This image shows an interesting mixture of symbols of both beauty and violence: a sword, a bracelet, a tutulus and two sickles from the Tollense River Valley. The Bronze Age was in no way a period free of violence, yet people also preoccupied themselves with beautiful things such as arts and crafts.

Bloody gold and deadly weapons Merchandise from the Bronze Age The four little bronze spirals were parts of garments people wore over 3,000 years ago. Researchers identified the two metal rings as merchandise that was traded. All of these objects were found in the Tollense River Valley. Author: Klaus Krämer (als)



Surprised by the attacker

Although scientists will never be able to tell which of the injuries came first, they say that an arm injury would suggest that the prince may have been surprised by the attacker and tried to defend himself.

Meller, speaking to the issue of who may have killed the prince, said: "It must have been a trusted person close to him. Perhaps a relative, friend or body guard," adding, "The ruler was unsuspecting and surprised by the attack. It could well be that he, like Julius Caesar in ancient Rome, was the victim of a conspiracy."

Opulent burial

Despite the prince's murder, the Unetice culture survived its leaders death and went on to flourish, as evidenced by the quality of the Nebra Sky Disc, which was discovered in 1999. The disc was added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2013.

The prince of Helmsdorf was buried in the Leubinger mound discovered by Friedrich Klopfleisch in 1877 and dated around 1940 BC. It is regarded as one of the richest Early Bronze Age graves in the whole of Western Europe.

Archaeologist Harald Meller announced that the full findings of research undertaken on the skeleton will be published in the first half of 2019.

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Jon Shelton with dpa

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