Archaeologists discover 3,300-year-old bronze sword in Italian lake

Archaeologists have discovered several ancient weapons, including a 3,300-year-old bronze sword that is still sharp, in a volcanic crater lake in Italy. Live Science and UA.NEWS both report that the underwater excavation also yielded intact ceramic vases and a bronze razor. [1][2]

Live Science reported that the artifacts were submerged inside the volcanic crater lake, which preserved the metal and ceramic items for millennia. The bronze sword retained its edge despite being underwater for more than three thousand years. [1]

The artifacts date to the Bronze Age, an archaeological period characterized by the production of bronze through smelting copper and alloying it with tin or arsenic. Metallurgy during this era allowed ancient societies to enhance warfare through superior weapons, build complex trade networks, and foster urban development across the Mediterranean region. [3][5]