Prehistoric Belief, Bronze Age Design and Imperial Remains

Hello fellow (pre-)history enthusiasts,

from time to time, closer inspection of artefacts reveals patterns that are as simple as they are profound. At other times, new discoveries remind us how complex and layered our understanding of the past has become. This issue brings together both: geometry and belief, craftsmanship and power — and the enduring human search for meaning.

Proportions in Early Sword Design

Recent work on early Bronze Age swords has led me to a rather intriguing observation.

When analysing archaeological drawings, subtle but consistent geometric relationships begin to emerge — patterns that suggest these weapons were not shaped arbitrarily, but followed a clear and deliberate design logic, and may even point to a simple, human-based unit of measurement underlying their construction.

This could expand our understanding of how the earliest European swords were made, revealing them to be the result of thoughtful and repeatable design.

Read more about these findings in my dedicated post:

A Prehistoric Shamaness

While geometry reveals structure, archaeology occasionally also offers glimpses into the spiritual worlds of the past.

A new special exhibition titled “Die Schamanin” has just opened at the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle. It centres on the remarkable burial of the so-called Shamaness of Bad Dürrenberg, dating to around 7000 BCE — one of the most extraordinary finds of the European Mesolithic.

Recent research has significantly deepened our understanding of this individual and her context. The burial, richly furnished and highly unusual, is now interpreted as that of a spiritual specialist — a mediator between worlds. Particularly striking is the discovery that the grave contained not only the woman and an infant, but evidence of additional individuals, revealing a far more complex funerary process than previously assumed.

The exhibition brings together an impressive range of finds and comparative material from across Europe, offering a rare opportunity to explore early belief systems, animism, and the archaeological traces of shamanistic practice at an unprecedented level of detail.

Further information on the exhibition itself can be found on the museum website.

If you cannot make it to Halle in person, I highly recommend the museum’s excellent video series on the Shamaness (with English subtitles).

The Body of the Emperor

From prehistory to the early medieval period:

Two weeks ago, Harald Meller and an international team of experts presented new research results on one of the most prominent figures of European history — Emperor Otto I.

The investigation of his remains has yielded fresh insights into the physical condition, life history, and post-mortem treatment of the emperor’s body. As so often, it is the combination of archaeological, anthropological, and scientific analysis that allows us to move beyond written sources and approach the historical individual more directly.

The results are as fascinating as they are sobering. They remind us that even the most powerful rulers ultimately leave behind the same fragile traces as anyone else — traces that, centuries later, can still speak.

I have summarised the key findings and their implications in a dedicated post:

The past is neither primitive nor distant. It is structured, complex, and deeply human. And the closer we look, the more it reveals.

Stay sharp,⚔️

Roland

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