Archaeologists in Switzerland have made a remarkable discovery: an impeccably preserved iron gauntlet believed to have been worn by a knight in the 14th century. The right-handed glove, found inside a cellar at a medieval town near Kyburg Castle, about 11 miles (18 kilometers) northeast of Zurich, is described as “completely preserved.”
The gauntlet, known as a “four-fold finger glove,” is constructed from individual iron plates arranged like fish scales and connected by rivets. Each piece was meticulously attached to the armored glove’s interior made of leather or cloth, according to a translated statement from the Canton of Zurich.
This significant find includes more than 50 other metal artifacts, such as hammers, tongs, tweezers, knives, pliers, and keys. The discovery is particularly fortunate, as impending construction work at the site posed a risk to these items.
Lorena Burkhardt, the excavation leader and an archaeology graduate student at the University of Zurich, explained to The New York Times, “We knew that all the archaeological remains in the ground would be destroyed during this construction work.”
This discovery marks the first time a nearly complete gauntlet from the 14th century has been unearthed in Switzerland. Previously, the oldest known gauntlets dated back to the 15th century.
The researchers noted in their statement, “So far, only five other gauntlets from this period have been found during archaeological excavations in Switzerland, although none of these pieces is anywhere near as well preserved and shows as many details of design and decoration as the Kyburg gauntlet.” However, the identity of the knight who wore the glove remains uncertain.
A copy of the gauntlet is set to be displayed to the public starting March 29 as part of a permanent exhibition at Kyburg Castle. The original gauntlet will also be showcased at the castle for three weeks beginning September 7.
