FX.co ★ Seven treasures discovered by archaeologists in 2023

Unique coin collection (Japan)

During excavations for a factory construction north of Tokyo in 2023, workers discovered an ancient cache containing about 100,000 coins. This unique find was divided into 1,060 packets. The coins are thought to date from between 175 BC and 1265 AD. Preliminary assessments suggest that one of these packets was made in China (since it contains the Chinese inscription "Bànliǎng," which translates as "half an ounce"). So far, researchers have examined about 334 coins.

Underwater temple with treasures (Egypt)

Underwater archaeologists also made surprising discoveries in 2023, exploring a canal off the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. They found an underwater temple, partially destroyed, containing many ancient treasures. Further exploration of the building, dated to the mid-2nd century BC, revealed a number of artifacts. It is believed to have been built for the ancient Egyptian god Amun. Among the finds were silver ritual instruments, gold jewelry, and alabaster vessels.

Civil War era coins from 1863 (USA)

Last year, an American working in a field in Kentucky, USA, found 700 coins, dubbed "The Great Kentucky Hoard." The collection, believed to have been minted between the 1840s and 1863, includes gold and silver coins. Researchers think that this collection was buried during the summer of 1863 in the Confederate period.

Bronze Age swords and medieval coins (Germany)

In 2023, a group of volunteer environmentalists discovered nearly 8,000 medieval coins and seven Bronze Age swords during their work on three different sites in Germany. Archaeologists believe the weapons, which are about 3,000 years old, might have been left as offerings. As for the ancient coins, they are part of the largest Slavic coin hoard from the 11th century.

ron Age glass workshop and Celtic coins (Czech Republic)

Last year in the Czech Republic, archaeologists found the oldest known glass workshop, located north of the Alps. It is believed the site could have been used for ritual purposes. This 2,300-year-old glass workshop contained several finished glass and amber products, including beads and bracelets, along with 2,000 gold and silver coins minted by the Celts. This unique hoard was discovered near a building where various rituals were performed.

Ancient gold necklaces (Spain)

A landslide in northern Spain revealed an ancient burial containing two richly decorated gold necklaces, dating back about 2,500 years. By analyzing the style and manufacturing technique of the jewelry, archaeologists concluded they were created around 500 BC. This was during the so-called Iron Age in Iberia. These ornaments were likely worn by members of the upper class.

Unique сoins from an ancient Buddhist temple (Pakistan)

Pakistani archaeologists, keeping pace with their European counterparts, discovered a collection of bronze coins in 2023, dating back 2,000 years. The hoard was found among the ruins of an ancient Buddhist temple, known as a stupa. Archaeologists believe the treasures and the sanctuary are associated with the Kushan Empire, an ancient Buddhist state that ruled the region from the 2nd to the 3rd century AD. However, the hoard has corroded, causing the coins to fuse into a single green mass weighing about 5.5 kg.