Archaeologists from the Brno City Museum have made a rare and precious discovery in South Moravia: a 3,200-year-old fragment of bronze armor dating back to the Late Bronze Age. The find, excavated at a confidential location in 2023, includes not only a fragment of a warrior’s breastplate but also a spearhead, a sickle, a bronze pin, and copper fragments—all of which had been buried together in what researchers believe was a ritual deposit.

3D reconstruction of the cuirᴀss (right), based on a French example from Saint-Germain-du-Plain (left)—armor with decoration. Credit: Martin Košťál

The fragment originally appeared to be a folded piece of metal, but under closer examination, it was revealed to be a fragment of body armor. “Thanks to 3D scanning, we were able to digitally ‘unfold’ the bent metal and determine its shape and decoration,” said Aleš Navrátil, an archaeologist at the Brno City Museum. The reconstructed armor showed embossed wave patterns and a solar symbol around the chest area, which was interpreted as a decorative and possibly symbolic element.

Researchers estimate the armor was buried more than three thousand years ago, around the same time that ancient records place the Trojan War. Bronze armor during that era was a luxury that only elite warriors could afford, as it was made using rare materials and advanced metalworking skills.

Selection of items from the collective find: spearhead, pin fragment, bent sickle, shield fragments. Credit: Brno City Museum

It is only the second bronze cuirᴀss discovered in the Czech Republic. It was so well preserved because the metal survived the test of time, while most of the organic armor from the period has long since decayed. The research was conducted in collaboration with Masaryk University’s Department of Archaeology and Museology, using microscopic and digital analysis to document and interpret the artifact.

The finder during the excavation. Credit: Aleš Navrátil

The artifacts had most likely been deliberately damaged prior to burial, which indicates a ceremonial or sacrificial function. This practice of depositing valuable items as an offering to deities or ancestral spirits was not unusual in Bronze Age Europe.

The discovery was made within a long-term research project by the Brno City Museum in cooperation with the Regional Museum in Mikulov and local metal detector groups. The find highlights the growing role of responsible public engagement in archaeological research.

Bronze artifacts after being uncovered. Credit: Aleš Navrátil

Zbyněk Šolc, director of the Brno City Museum, said: “This finding confirms the importance of long-term cooperation between specialists and the public. Thanks to this collaboration, we can reveal and protect valuable artifacts.”

It is the museum’s plan to present the armor to the public in the near future, connecting the heroic warrior traditions of Moravia with the legendary realm of Troy and the ancient Mediterranean civilization.

More information: Brno City Museum