In western Hungary, archaeologists have uncovered more than 900 artefacts dating back to the Bronze and Iron Ages on Somló Hill—a volcanic outcrop now better known for wine production. Using metal detectors and advanced techniques like lidar scanning, the team has shed light on a little-understood society that lived there between 1400 and 900 BC, during the transitional period between the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age.

The collection—featuring jewelry, weapons, military ornaments, and tools—was found in at least six separate hoards, suggesting ritual or symbolic practices involving metal. Many of the artefacts came from a plateau on the hill’s southeastern slope, and researchers believe they may have belonged to a warrior elite who held power in the region over 3,000 years ago, according to Live Science.

Somló Hill

While today Somló is associated with viticulture, its archaeological significance has been recognized since the 1800s, when farmers and vintners began to accidentally unearth ancient objects. Bence Soós, an archaeologist at the Hungarian National Museum, notes that these early finds hinted at long-standing human activity on the hill—particularly from the 13th to the 6th centuries BC. However, because the original locations of the items had not been recorded, many questions about their context remained unanswered.

To address this, Soós and his team initiated a systematic excavation and surveying campaign, using a combination of field walking, metal detection, and lidar scanning to find out who lived on Somló and what role the hill played in prehistoric Hungary.

Uncovering a forgotten culture

As the study published in Antiquity reports, most of the newly found items date from 1080 to 900 BC, though some go as far back as 1400 BC. The discoveries include not only metal artefacts but also amber beads, fragments of fabric and leather, and animal remains like boar and pig tusks—evidence of a complex culture involved in trade, craftsmanship, and symbolic traditions.

One of the most remarkable finds is “Hoard V,” the first known discovery in western Hungary of metal objects intentionally buried inside a ceramic vessel. This points to a local tradition of metal hoarding, possibly with religious or social significance.

Clues without a workshop

Although no definitive evidence of a metalworking facility has been found so far, many of the items point to local production. Structural remains in the area also suggest that the site may have hosted a permanent or semi-permanent settlement, likely inhabited by a powerful elite.

A forgotten people

Even with the discovery of the above mentioned artefacts, the true identity of the people who lived in western Hungary during this era remains uncertain. The absence of clear cultural or ethnic markers from that time makes it difficult to link the artefacts to any specific known group.

Nonetheless, the abundance and sophistication of the finds from Somló—especially the ornate grave goods uncovered in monumental tombs nearby—lend weight to the idea that the hill once served as a political or ceremonial hub for tribal societies ruled by warrior aristocracies.

Soós and his colleagues aim to continue excavating the site in hopes of better understanding the timeline and social organization of these ancient groups, and to shed light on a largely obscure period of Central European prehistory.