The “Barbarian treasure” was found in 2013 near Rülzheim (Germersheim district) by a metal detectorist. From the Roman times there was a route there, today it’s a forest in the southern Palatinate.
About 100 objects, among them: gold jewelry and ornaments from a ceremonial robe, the large silver plate, the remains of a gilded and silver-plated folding chair, come from the Great Migration Period. Some of the objects date from the first half of the 5th century, others such as the mirrors are from the 2nd century.
“Had Germans hidden their booty near Rülzheim, which they had snatched from a high Roman official? Or did a rich Roman want to hide his belongings from greedy barbarians?”
A significant part of the historical background has been lost, as the founder recovered the treasure undocumented and completely ransacked the site.
Photo: ©DPA
Parallels for this silver bowl can be found in the East Germanic-Hunnic settlement area of the Carpathian Basin. The shell is therefore a strong indication of the origin of the owner of the Rülzheim treasure from Eastern Europe.
The reconstruction of the folded chair.
Photo: Directorate General for Cultural Heritage, State Archeology Speyer/ C. Breckle.
Drawing: W. Himmelmann
The silver plate with an image of a woman, probably of a goddess, was divided into several pieces as booty in ancient times already.
The female figures made of partially gilded silver sheet were part of a richly decorated “folding chair”.
The “Folding Chair” includes a total of four decorative pins made of solid silver, the surface of which still shows traces of gilding. They formed the decorative ends of two iron rods to which the seat made of perishable material was mounted.
The female figures on the silver plate are probably depictions of the Three Graces. This could be the decorative back of a hand mirror.
© Peter Haag-Kirchner/Historical Museum of the Palatinate
folded silver plate, ©DPA
The original function of these objects is not known.
© Peter Haag-Kirchner/Historical Museum of the Palatinate
- Sources:
- https://www.badische-zeitung.de
- https://www.rheinpfalz.de/pfalz_artikel
- Rülzheimer Barbarenschatz https://www.rheinpfalz.de/politik/rheinland-pfalz_artikel,-r%C3%BClzheimer-barbarenschatz-ein-fall-f%C3%BCrs-amtsgericht-_arid,170851.html
- Finder of “barbarian treasure” charged https://www.welt.de/vermischtes/article131232986/Finder-des-Barbarenschatzes-angeklagt.html
- https://www.suedpfalz-tourismus.de/de/suedpfalz-erleben/kultur-land-suedpfalz/roemer-schaetze/schatzfund-ruelzheim
- © Peter Haag-Kirchner/Historical Museum of the Palatinate https://www.heidelberg24.de/region/fotostrecke-barbarenschatz-ruelzheim-wird-historischen-museum-pfalz-speyer-ausgestellt-4133902.html
- Rülzheim – folding chair from the barbarian treasure https://www.wochenblatt-reporter.de/ruelzheim/c-lokales/ruelzheim-klappstuhl-aus-dem-barbarenschatz-war-etwas-besonderes_a74926#gallery=null
- https://www.schatzsucher.wiki/index.php?title=Barbarenschatzprozess