Over A Hundred Gold Rings Discovered In ‘Phenomenal’ Romanian Grave

Archaeologists have found treasure in the form of 169 gold rings from a prehistoric grave in Crisana, Romania.

The expedition, which was conducted as part of construction along the highway, found the rings had belonged to a woman from the Tiszapolgar culture, of which females adorned their hair with the accessories. 

According to ARTnews, apart from the sizable collection of gold rings, the researchers also found a multi-spiral copper bracelet, two gold beads, and about 800 beads made from bone.

Calin Gehmis, the dig’s lead archaeologist, told Romania’s Agerpres that the discovery was a “sensational find for the period,” especially as the total number of gold pieces found at the Carpathian Basin amounted to just 150, while this grave alone comprised over 160. 

Based on the woman’s teeth and overall stature, the team identified her as a high-status person in society. She would’ve lived between 4500 BCE and 4000 BCE, when the Tiszapolgar people thrived during the Copper Age civilization in Eastern and Central Europe.

More samples taken from the grave, hailed a “phenomenal discovery,” have been sent to laboratories for further carbon analysis and DNA testing, with the rings set to be cleaned and conserved. 

Other than this site, other excavations in the same team uncovered three sites from the Neolithic Period, two from the middle to late Bronze Age, two from the Roman Period, and a last pair from the Middle Ages.

[via ARTnews and Muzeul Tarii Crisurilor, images via Muzeul Tarii Crisurilor]