Gold Trove Linked to Famed Aegina Treasure Discovered on Greek Isle
Excavations at Kolona, an archaeological site on the Greek island of Aegina, have uncovered a trove of gold jewelry dating to the Middle Bronze Age. The discovery was made inside a large stone building near a defensive wall built during the ancient settlement’s expansion, just outside what is generally considered the site’s inner area. The site, located near Aegina’s modern northwest harbor, was under continuous excavation last year, with the jewelry hoard marking one of the season’s highlights, according to the Greek Ministry of Culture. Related Articles Among the discoveries was a variety of gold ornaments: disc-shaped pendants, some double-sided and others featuring biconical elements; delicate gold plaques; and beads of carnelian—a reddish-orange chalcedony quartz, also known as “sunset stone,” which was associated with courage in ancient Rome. All together, the items likely comprise a single piece of jewelry, likely a necklace or pendant. Archaeologists noted that some of the unearthed gold bears similarities to objects associated with the so-called Aegina Treasure, a Minoan gold hoard reportedly discovered on the island of the same name. …
