Rich warrior grave from 6th century BC found near Koroshishta
The National Archaeological Museum presented a burial with complete weaponry and a gold foil that may be a funerary mask.
At the Rasnica archaeological site near the village of Koroshishta, the National Archaeological Museum today presented the latest results of excavations that revealed a richly furnished warrior burial dated to the 6th century BC. The burial contained a complete set of military equipment and other objects that point to a high social status for the interred individual.
Key finds
Archaeologists report a skeletal burial accompanied by a bronze helmet, a shield, spears and a sword. Of particular interest is a sheet of gold foil found beside the shield; researchers believe it may have been placed over the deceased's face and could represent a type of gold funerary mask.
Further laboratory work will conserve and examine the gold foil in detail; results from those analyses are expected to clarify its shape, purpose and manufacturing technique. Specialists will also complete osteological and other analyses to determine the sex and age of the deceased, possible diseases, and other biological information.
Researchers said the new burial will be compared with an earlier grave discovered in 2024 to establish whether there is any kinship or social link between the two interments. Together, the finds point to the presence of an elite warrior or a person of elevated rank in the local community during the 6th century BC.
The museum emphasized that conservation and laboratory processing of the finds are ongoing, and additional information will be published after the detailed examinations are finished.
Photo: SDK.MK)
