Unique early medieval gold brooch and other valuables in graves from the 7th century.

Earlier this year, a rescue archaeological excavation was carried out in the Kleinbasel district of Basel prior to the installation of a new hot water pipeline. The excavations uncovered fifteen richly furnished graves with many gold and silver valuables, jewellery and beads. The discoveries confirm a much larger settlement than experts had anticipated.

One of the most valuable is the grave of a high-ranking seventh-century young woman, about 20 years old at the time of her death. The grave was damaged during modern construction in the early 20th century. The skull and legs from the knees down are missing, but a rich grave goods remains. In particular, a rare gold disc-shaped brooch decorated with gold wire filigree, inlaid with gems and blue glass: "It's an extraordinary piece," Basel cantonal archaeologist Dr. "Such finds are rather rare in early medieval graves," he added.

The brooch probably fastened a robe that had already disintegrated over the centuries. She was also wearing a necklace of 160 glass, amethyst and amber beads, which may also have been part of the collar of the robe. A leather strap decorated with metal crosses and a large amber pendant has also survived. Around the torso was a belt with an iron buckle and silver fittings. On the belt hung a chatelaine with pierced Roman coins, metal artefacts and a bone crest.

Another unique feature is a child's grave with a large silver and gold inlaid belt buckle, belt fittings, 380 pearls, scissors and a comb, a boy's grave with silversilver belt fittings, or the stone grave of an adult man whose face bears the marks of a violent sword blow in which he lost part of his jaw. Interestingly, the man survived the brutal assault - he died many years afterwards when the injury had fully healed.

Basel was founded as a Celtic oppidum in the 1st century BC. The Romans later built a military camp here and by the end of the 1st century AD it became part of the Roman province of Germania Superior (Upper Germania). From the 3rd century onwards, Roman control of the area waned, and around 406 AD the Alemanni settled here, followed by the Franks. In the 7th century the city minted its own coins, a hundred years later a bishopric was established and the first Basel Cathedral was built. Today's Kleinbasel was then the core of the early medieval settlement.

Roman Nemec

Sources: switzerlandtimes.ch, arkeonews.net

The graves were disturbed by modern construction in the early 20th century.

Part of the beads from the rich equipment of the girl's grave

A child's grave with belt fittings and decorative elements

The beautiful gold and decorated early medieval brooch is a complete unique

Silver belt buckle from a child's grave