An archaeological discovery has surprised the world with the magnitude and age of the treasure hidden underground. Researchers specialising in European archaeology have identified an ancient cache of gold coins in a rural area of Pilsen, Czech Republic. The collection included coins and small ingots that had remained hidden underground for centuries, located thanks to the team’s exploration and analysis of the terrain.
According to the Museum and Gallery of Northern Pilsen, the recovered material represents valuable evidence of the Celtic presence in the region. Cultural authorities have highlighted that the collection has high historical value, not only because of its age, but also because of its excellent state of preservation, which will allow for a deeper understanding of the societies that inhabited Central Europe. Tension. Will World War III break out? Russia threatens Japan and increases global alert amid military exercises in the region opens in new tab Hidden gold. The discovery of the century: tonnes of gold are found underwater and the historical wealth of an entire country is rewrittenopens in new tab Experts from the Archaeological Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences explained that further assessments, based on isotopic testing, will determine whether the metal comes from nearby deposits or was transported from remote areas via ancient trade routes.
Gold found in the Czech Republic: how the treasure was discovered
The discovery began to take shape long before it made the news. In 2021, an amateur hunter searching the area with a metal detector identified a fragment of an ancient coin dating from the 2nd century BC. This initial clue led to the land, an active agricultural area, undergoing controlled excavations, adjusted to the planting and harvesting periods. According to experts, the pieces found may have arrived there as part of trade exchanges or may have been deliberately buried for ceremonial purposes. During the interventions, remains of a horse and several metal tools were also recovered, elements that suggest that the site may have served ritual functions or been related to ancient trading practices.
Coins, ingots and unique gold pieces found in Pilsen
The director of the MGSP, Pavel Kodera, said that the site ‘contains a large number of small but exceptional metal objects, mostly coins, although ingots, raw gold flakes, earrings and fragments of bracelets have also been found’.
Key points of the surprising discovery:
- More than 500 gold and silver coins, many with symbols of Celtic culture.
- Ingots and pieces of raw gold, as well as flakes and small ornaments.
- Detailed designs with figures of horses, boars, suns and Celtic gods.
- Hellenistic influences, with portraits and motifs of Greek origin.
The coins measure between 7 millimetres and 1.5 centimetres and feature unique designs that reflect Celtic mythology and thought.
‘The images are true works of art, reflecting the mythology and mentality of the Celtic people,’ explained Kodera.
