Archaeologists have discovered a well-preserved Bronze Age sword in the German town of Nordlingen, alongside the remains of a man, woman and child, and a deposit of grave goods and weaponry. The discovery is rare for the area, as most burial mounds have been looted. The sword's hilt is decorated, suggesting it had a ceremonial function or was a symbol of high status, but it would also have served as an effective weapon. Researchers are yet to classify the find, which may have been locally crafted or imported. The sword is similar to d-type Ricksheim swords, which use a solid hilt made by overlay casting of the handle over the blade. The find is rare in a region where most Bronze Age remains belong to the Earnfield culture, which developed advanced metal working skills in bronze weaponry and armor.
Peruvian archaeologists have discovered a 3,000-year-old mummy in Lima dating to pre-Hispanic times. The mummy is thought to have belonged to the Manche culture, which developed in the valleys of Lima between 1500 and 1000 BC. The person was either left or offered as a sacrifice during the last phase of the construction of a temple. The mummy was buried with other items including corn, coca leaves and seeds.
