Archaeologists excavating along the Sava River in Tolisa, northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, have discovered what is potentially the largest collection of prehistoric bipyramidal iron ingots yet found in Europe, potentially redefining the area’s contribution to prehistoric trade and metallurgy.
The cache, which dates from the transition period between the Late Iron Age (La Tène culture) and Roman influence in the 1st or 2nd century BCE, is made up of hundreds of preserved iron bars that were previously used by blacksmiths for the production of tools, weaponry, and household items. Before this discovery, there was only one ingot of this type in Bosnia, one in Croatia, and three in Slovenia, with small numbers in France, Germany, Hungary, and Romania. The number retrieved from this single Bosnian site is greater than the total number ever previously discovered on the continent.
The discovery began with Pero Matkić, a local history enthusiast, who spotted fragments of an unknown metal drifting in the murky river last year. He photographed the fragments and sent them to Hrvoje Vulić, director of Croatia’s Vinkovci City Museum, who recognized their significance immediately. This resulted in the initiation of a cross-border research group involving the Croatian Conservation Institute, underwater archaeologist Krunoslav Zubčić, and Nikica Spudić of the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, as well as Matkić, his son Mihovila, and the director of the Franciscan Monastery Museum “Vrata Bosne” in Tolisa.
Having waited for the level of the river to recede, the team conducted a cautious excavation. The site was pegged using fixed reference points, and a photogrammetry record was made to create a detailed 3D model of the site. Each ingot was documented, numbered, and carefully lifted from the riverbed before being placed in tubs of distilled water to prevent corrosion.
The exact reason why such a huge shipment ended up in the Sava is not known, but researchers suspect that the ingots were part of a cargo transport that sank, presumably due to a storm, navigation mishap, or war.
The next stage of research will focus on chemical analysis to track the origin of the iron.
Given the magnitude and historical significance of the discovery, the Franciscan Monastery Museum is currently collaborating with institutions in Slovenia, Germany, France, and Austria. Specialists estimate that the project will last for years and may ultimately redefine our knowledge about the economic and logistical networks of prehistoric Europe.
