The Gold Treasure in Erstfeld, Switzerland

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The Celtic Gold Treasure
Esrtfeld, Switzerland
Erstfeld, Switzerland

was found on August 20, 1962, in Erstfeld, Canton of URI, located in central Switzerland, by two Italian workers. The sensational find was under a mighty boulder at a depth of about 9 meters – on the south side of the current dam of the Ribital development.

The gold treasure from Erstfeld is considered to be the most important Swiss Celtic find from around 300 BC. Christ. The four-neck rings and three-arm rings are practically new women’s jewelry made of up to 95% pure gold and weigh a total of 640 grams.

The neck and arm rings discovered in Erstfeld are outstanding masterpieces of Celtic handicrafts. There are only a few comparable valuable finds in Europe north of the Alps.

The Gold Treasure from Erstfeld

can be admired as a copy in the Historical Museum URI in Altdorf. The real finds are exhibited in the Swiss National Museum in Zurich.

The gold treasure find is one of the most significant ever made in Switzerland. The masterfully crafted shapes and decorations of enigmatic intertwined creatures – half-animal half-human.

The Discovery

of the Erstfeld Godrings was a sensation. The richly decorated, ornamented jewelry pieces are made of 22-carat gold and are very valuable witnesses to the masterful and fascinating handicrafts of the Celts.

Erstfeld was a border area to the Alps and on the edge of the settlement area of the Celts, who lived in central Switzerland around 300 BC. . Celts made sacrifices to their gods in special places. High mountains – like the Gotthard massif – soared up into the sky to the gods.

Today the gold treasure is interpreted as a dedication to a mountain god. The seven neck bracelets look very similar stylistically and are decorated with very beautiful relief and decorative elements.

Celtic Culture in Switzerland