Using advanced, non-destructive analytical techniques on the Nördlingen bronze sword, researchers have gained new insights into metalworking practices in southern Germany during the Middle Bronze Age.
Dating back more than 3,400 years, the sword was discovered in 2023 during excavations in Nördlingen, Swabia.
The Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments (BLfD) commissioned its scientific investigation in Berlin to clarify key questions about manufacturing techniques, construction methods, and decorative processes.
The CT and diffraction analyses were conducted at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, while X-ray fluorescence measurements took place at a specialised beamline operated by the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM).
According to Prof. Mathias Pfeil, Director General of the BLfD, modern measurement technologies now allow researchers to reconstruct Bronze Age metalworking techniques with remarkable precision.
While the sword’s discovery attracted considerable public attention, its scientific analysis has elevated its importance from a spectacular find to a substantive historical source.
Unlike other measurement projects carried out at BESSY II, the investigation of a decorated octagonal Middle Bronze Age sword is a rare and exceptional case. It was brought to Berlin by Dr. Johann-Friedrich Tolksdorf, regional representative of the BLfD, and conservator Beate Herbold.
Recovered from a grave in Nördlingen, the sword is extraordinarily well preserved. In some areas it still retains a metallic sheen; the pommel and pommel plate display intricate geometric ornamentation, and the blade remains nearly sharp.
In a high-resolution computed tomography task performed at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Dr Nikolay Kardjilov and colleagues created a three-dimensional X-ray model of the sword. The scan showed that the blade extends into the hilt via a tang – an integral extension of the blade – secured by clamping and riveting. The CT resolution was sufficiently detailed to identify tool marks and material characteristics associated with the decorative work.
Unexpected Decorative Technique
The pommel and pommel plate are engraved with deep, geometric grooves. These grooves were filled with a contrasting material, which was first assumed to be tin because of the material’s softness. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy performed at BAM’s BESSY II beamline by Dr. Martin Radtke helped to confirm the composition. Researchers stimulated element-specific X-ray emissions, enabling the detection of trace elements by irradiating the pommel surface with powerful synchrotron radiation.
The results showed that the inlays consist of copper wires joined together—an unexpected finding. While traces of tin and occasional lead (likely components of the bronze alloy) were detected, the decorative inlays themselves were copper.
The choice of copper rather than tin suggests a highly sophisticated level of craftsmanship. Comparable copper-wire inlays are known from other Bronze Age contexts. To enhance visual contrast between the reddish copper and the golden bronze substrate, the surface may have been intentionally patinated—possibly through chemical blackening methods.
Investigating Metalworking Processes
Further analysis in the X-ray laboratory of Dr. Manuela Klaus focused on residual stress measurements. Such investigations allow researchers to reconstruct aspects of the forging and finishing process by identifying stress patterns preserved within the metal. These data provide insight into hammering sequences, thermal treatments, and finishing techniques employed during manufacture.
Through the integration of advanced imaging and spectroscopic analysis, the Nördlingen bronze sword now serves not only as a striking archaeological artifact but also as a detailed technical record of Middle Bronze Age metallurgy in southern Germany.
Header Image Credit : Archäologie-Büro Dr. Woidich/Sergiu Tifui
Sources : Bayerisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege
