French
DeutschKryburg gauntlet
The Kryburg gauntlet is a medieval iron glove discovered near Switzerland's Kyburg Castle during a 2021-2022 archeological excavation.[1]
Discovery
[edit]Demolition work was planned near Kyburg Castle, about 20 miles north of Zurich; the castle was near a medieval town and the planned work threatened any artifacts that might be present on the site.[1][2] Excavation to preserve any artifacts present was carried out in late 2021 and early 2022.[1] One of the major finds was the gauntlet.[1]
A medieval-era weaving cellar and multiple other artifacts, including over 50 iron pieces, were also found during the excavation.[2] The gauntlet was found within the remains of the weaving cellar, leading archeologists to believe a blacksmith was working in the area before a fire destroyed the weaving cellar.[3]
Description
[edit]The right hand gauntlet was almost complete. Portions of a left hand gauntlet were also recovered.[1] The gauntlet has four finger-folds.[1] Side rivets allowed the gauntlet to be a flexible glove.[4] It is made of iron and was likely attached to an interior textile or leather glove.[1][4][3]
Because the gauntlet shows evidence of creation by a skilled craftsman, and such armor was expensive, the gauntlet probably belonged to a member of the nobility or another person of high status.[1][4]
Importance
[edit]According to Zurich Cantonal Archaeology, most other gauntlets recovered have been from later periods; only five others from this period are known to exist from Swiss excavations, and all are fragmental.[1][4]
Exhibition
[edit]Kyburg Castle planned a permanent display of a copy of the gauntlet and a reconstruction of what it would have looked like when it was made starting in late March of 2024 and a three-week display of the original starting in September of 2024.[5][3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i Mather, Victor (2024-01-31). "A Stunningly Well-Preserved 600-Year-Old Gauntlet Is Found in Switzerland". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
- ^ a b Czachor, Emily Mae (2024-01-22). "Archaeologists unearth rare 14th-century armor near Swiss castle: "Sensational find" - CBS News". CBS News. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
- ^ a b c Anderson, Sonja (26 January 2024). "'Sensational' Medieval Armor Discovered Near a Castle in Switzerland". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
- ^ a b c d "Swiss archaeologists find 'sensational' 14th-century gauntlet". The Jerusalem Post. 2024-01-20. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
- ^ "Aussergewöhnlich: Kantonsarchäologie findet vollständig erhaltenen Panzerhandschuh". Kanton Zürich (in German). Retrieved 2024-01-31.