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Miami Herald

Volcanic hill hid hundreds of ancient artifacts — some 3,400 years old — in Hungary

In the middle of Hungary's vast western plains, an extinct volcano rises from the earth, reaching over 1400 feet high. It is Somló Hill, and today, its slopes are lined with vineyards — but beneath the surface, researchers have discovered six large hoards of ancient artifacts, some dating back more than 3,400 years, according to a study published March 27 in the journal Antiquity. Since 2023, researchers have identified more than 300 artifacts, according to the study. Six large hoards — or collections of precious objects intentionally buried for ritual and practical purposes — were discovered on Somló Hill, with five dating to the Late Bronze Age and one to the Early Iron Age, researchers said. Among the Early Iron Age finds were a large pendant, brooches, and a decorative metal disc, often used as a military adornment. An alpine-style spearhead was also unearthed from the first hoard, researchers said. 'Occupation on the hilltop seems to have been uninterrupted during the transition into the Early Iron Age,' researchers said. Some artifacts suggest that the area continued to be occupied until the early fifth century B.C., according to the study. Researchers said Somló Hill presents a unique opportunity to study how and why these hoards were created by looking at the arrangement of the items, the mix of objects, and 'the presence of non-metal components,' including amber beads, boar tusks, fabric and leather. For the first time, researchers found contents buried in ceramic pots — a practice that had been suggested for the period but never documented, researchers said. Researchers used a combination of survey strategies to map the deposits, including metal detectors and topographical mapping with hundreds of drones, according to the study. More fieldwork, including excavation, is planned for Somló Hill and archaeologists aim to 'clarify the chronology' of the hoards to create a more precise timeline of the ancient settlements that lived on the hilltop, researchers said. The research team included Bence Soós, Tamás Péterváry, Gábor Mesterházy, Tamás Látos, Ákos Pető, Mihály Pethe, Zoltán Kis, Zsolt Vasáros and János Gábor Tarbay. Somló Hill is in Veszprém County, about a 100-mile drive southwest from Budapest.