6 August 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Bosnia and Herzegovina Unearths Europe’s Largest Hoard of 2,000-Year-Old Bipyramidal Ingots from the Sava River

Previously recognized for its exhibitions on medieval manuscripts and regional folklore, the Franciscan Monastery Museum “Vrata Bosne” in Tolisa is once again in the spotlight—this time for a groundbreaking archaeological discovery. In just two days of exploration along the Sava River in the Posavina Canton, researchers have unearthed an unprecedented number of bipyramidal ingots—rare iron bars believed to be over 2,000 years old.

These unique artifacts, known to be semi-processed iron used by ancient blacksmiths for crafting tools, weapons, and various items, are rarely found. Before this discovery, only a few examples were housed in museums across France, Germany, Slovenia, and Sarajevo. Now, however, hundreds have been discovered at this single site in northern Bosnia, potentially making it the richest known source of such artifacts in all of Europe.

From Local Passion to Global Significance

The discovery owes much to Pero Matkić, a local history enthusiast and collaborator with the museum, who meticulously collected initial fragments and shared images with experts in Vinkovci, Croatia. The importance of the site quickly became evident, prompting a rapid response from archaeological professionals.

Leading the expert team are Krunoslav Zubčić, an underwater archaeologist from the Croatian Conservation Institute in Zagreb, and Nikica Spudić, a specialist from the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service in Karlovac. Their expertise is now driving the detailed excavation and analysis of this extraordinary find.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Unearths Europe’s Largest Cache of 2,000-Year-Old Bipyramidal Ingots in the Sava River. Credit: Muzej Franjevačkog samostana Tolisa Vrata Bosne
Bosnia and Herzegovina Unearths Europe’s Largest Cache of 2,000-Year-Old Bipyramidal Ingots in the Sava River. Credit: Muzej Franjevačkog samostana Tolisa Vrata Bosne

“The ingots are characteristic of the transitional period from the La Tène culture to Roman times, dating to the 1st or 2nd century BCE,” explains Professor Jozo Jezerčić, director of the Museum “Vrata Bosne.” “It appears that a cargo—possibly transported by river—sank into the Sava, likely due to a storm or conflict. The vehicle may have been swept away, but the heavy ingots remained submerged until now.”

Advanced Techniques and Future Research

To ensure precise documentation, the site was first mapped and marked with fixed reference points. Photogrammetry techniques were used to create a 3D model and detailed topographic plan. Each item was then cataloged and carefully removed from the riverbed, placed in distilled water for preservation before undergoing further conservation.

“The real excitement begins now,” says underwater archaeologist Zubčić. “Chemical analysis will soon reveal the origin of the metal—possibly tracing it to ancient mines—and provide insights into trade routes that connected Bosanska Posavina to Central Europe even before the Roman era.”

Bosnia and Herzegovina Unearths Europe’s Largest Cache of 2,000-Year-Old Bipyramidal Ingots in the Sava River. Credit: Muzej Franjevačkog samostana Tolisa Vrata Bosne
Bosnia and Herzegovina Unearths Europe’s Largest Cache of 2,000-Year-Old Bipyramidal Ingots in the Sava River. Credit: Muzej Franjevačkog samostana Tolisa Vrata Bosne

A New Chapter in European Archaeology

Experts believe this discovery could redefine the historical role of Bosanska Posavina, positioning it as a crucial center of trade and economic activity in antiquity—far more significant than previously thought.

“The story of these mysterious ingots is just beginning,” Jezerčić adds. “To properly preserve and analyze them, we are collaborating with institutions in Slovenia, Germany, France, and Austria. This will be a long-term, international effort that may change how we understand prehistoric and Roman-era commerce across Europe.”

Cover Image Credit: Muzej Franjevačkog samostana Tolisa Vrata Bosne

Related Articles

In Lviv, Ukraine, a secret room where Jews were hiding in city sewers during the Nazi Holocaust has been unearthed

7 November 2021

7 November 2021

In the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, diggers have uncovered new hiding spots in underground sewers where some Jews managed...

Gold coin hoard discovered in a cup beneath a North Yorkshire kitchen floor is being auctioned off

7 September 2022

7 September 2022

A couple in North Yorkshire found an early 18th-century gold coin hoard buried under the floorboards of their kitchen. The...

The 6th-Century “Türk-Kagan” Coin Discovery in Uzbekistan Could Rewrite History as the Oldest Known Record of the Name “Türk”

15 May 2025

15 May 2025

A remarkable archaeological find in Uzbekistan has unearthed a 6th-century coin bearing the inscription “Turk-Kagan,” a discovery that could significantly...

The ability to produce ceramic vessels came to Europe via Siberia and the Caspian Sea region

6 January 2023

6 January 2023

A new study suggests that the knowledge for making ceramic vessels came to Europe from the Middle East and the...

A 4,500-year-old rope remains were discovered at Turkey’s Seyitömer mound

26 December 2021

26 December 2021

In the rescue excavation carried out in the mound, which is located within the license border of Çelikler Seyitömer Electricity...

500-year-old board game discovered carved into a stone slab in a Polish castle

12 September 2023

12 September 2023

A board game carved into stone was discovered by archaeologists investigating the castle at Ćmielów in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship in...

Archaeologists Discovered 1,500-Year-Old Maya Palace in Mexico

25 September 2023

25 September 2023

Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) archaeologists have discovered a palace at an ancient Maya city in southeastern...

Metal Scraps were Used İnstead of Money in Bronze Age Europe

8 May 2021

8 May 2021

Bronze scrap uncovered in hoards in Europe was used as currency, according to researchers from the Universities of Göttingen and...

Twin temples linked to Hercules and Alexander the Great discovered in Sumerian city of Girsu

29 January 2024

29 January 2024

Archaeologists discovered two temples, with one buried over the other, during excavations at Girsu, a Sumerian city in southeastern Iraq...

Ancient Mesopotamian Cylinder Seals Offer Clues to the Origin of Writing

6 November 2024

6 November 2024

Researchers from the University of Bologna have discovered an association between proto-cuneiform and even older stone images engraved on ancient...

Scandinavia’s first farmers slaughtered the hunter-gatherer population, according to a new study

9 February 2024

9 February 2024

Following the arrival of the first farmers in Scandinavia 5,900 years ago, the hunter-gatherer population was wiped out within a...

A secret chamber has been found in the famous Gorham Cave Complex

29 September 2021

29 September 2021

A cave chamber sealed off by sand for some 40,000 years has been discovered in Vanguard Cave inside the Gorham’s...

Experts to uncover the secret of the monumental and three-dimensional Urartian statue found on Garibin Tepe

2 November 2024

2 November 2024

In an area where rescue excavations were conducted last year, archaeologists discovered a basalt stone statue from the Urartian period...

Archaeologists discovered a Thracian tomb from the time of the Odrysian kingdom in southern Bulgaria

13 September 2023

13 September 2023

Archaeologists from the Haskovo Regional Museum of History discovered a third Thracian tomb with murals the likes of those in...

First Human Figurine of the Mesolithic Era (Circa 9000 Years Old) Discovered in Azerbaijan’s Damjili Cave

19 April 2025

19 April 2025

A groundbreaking discovery has been made in the Damjili Cave in Azerbaijan’s Gazakh district: the first human figurine from the...

Comments
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *