The Bronze Age Treasure
Alingsås
It was the mapmaker Tomas Karlsson, who accidentally found this unique treasure in the spring of 2021, while he was out drawing new maps for the local orienteering club. After being hidden under a boulder for almost 2500 years, the time has now come for the public to see these beautiful objects.
A treasure in the forest
Tomas Karlsson was out in the forest a sunny Thursday during Easter 2021 to draw a map for an upcoming orienteering event, when he saw something shining under a boulder.
- At first I didn’t understand what it was. I thought it might be something that was used in a live action role-playing game, that someone had stowed away recently. The items looked so well preserved, like they had been placed there earlier that day.
It took a while for Tomas to realize that this could be something big, something of common interest. He sat down and started to google for what to do when you find what could be an archaeologically interesting site. He sent an e-mail to The Swedish National Heritage Board, the County Administrative Board and to some archaeologists. Then he carefully put the findings back where he had found them and continued to work on his map.
- As a child, I always dreamt of finding a treasure, Tomas continues. And now I found it!
The treasure appears to be one of the largest archaeological finds in Europe in recent years and consists of different jewelleries, most likely belonging to a woman from the upper class. They are well-made, with many artistic features and also very well preserved.
The items were found in three different places and researchers believe they have been placed there on several occasions during a period of 150 years. The hiding places have been built in a way that conceal and protect the items from the elements, that is why they are so well preserved.
The fact that some of the items seem to be deliberately broken, might suggest that they have been used as some kind of sacrifice or part of a ritual, perhaps a marriage? But these are just one of many theories so far.
The exhibition
The Swedish National Heritage Board has decided to keep these items permanently in Lödöse Museum. Alingsås museum will though, in close cooperation with Lödöse museum, be able to show them during this summer, from June 15th to September 30th 2022.
The items will be shown in special display cases to keep them in perfect temperature and humidity. The main focus of the exhibition will of course be the items themselves, but it will also show and tell more about the Bronze Age in general.
Alingsås Museum is open Tuesday-Friday between 11-16 and Saturdays between 11-14. For latest updates, visit the homepage. Free entrace.
Alingsås museum
Bankgatan 3
44130 Alingsås
Phone: +46 322-61 65 96
E-mail: museum@alingsas.se
Website: To homepage
