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Archaeologists in the Czech Republic have unearthed the oldest know glass workshop north of the Alps at a site that may have been used for ritualistic purposes .
The Iron Age shop is part of an early settlement site known as Němčice that operated throughout the third and second 100 B.C. , churning out a variety of exquisite glass bracelets and bead . During mining , archaeologists also find more than 2,000 gold and ash gray coins coin byCeltswho exist in continental Europe , indicating that the site was a trading hotspot . The team also excavate a potential sanctuary , suggesting that Iron Age people performed rituals there , accord to a study publish June 29 in the journalAntiquity .
A selection of glass bracelets and beads found at Němčice in the Czech Republic.
Researchers discovered Němčice while conducting excavations in 2002 and during subsequent surveys have discovered deep-set army hut , bronze amulets and coins dissipate throughout the land site . The coin are hint that Němčice was probable part of the " Amber Road , " a big central European electronic connection that linked the Baltic seashore to the Mediterranean region . However , more than 20 old age would go past before they would find the glass workshop , according to a instruction .
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While glassmaking putz were not get there , researchers discovered a mix of ruined and incomplete drinking glass and gold items , which could indicate that they were crafted onsite and not imported from elsewhere .
An aerial image of the an uncovered sanctuary that may have been used for rituals.
" No one yet know how on the nose the Celts made crank bracelets , " lead authorIvan Čižmář , an archaeologist at the Institute of Archaeological Heritage Brno in the Czech Republic , said in the statement . " Therefore , we were interested in anything that tells us something about the technology of output . "
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In improver to the artifacts , researchers discovered a straight social organization that resembled similar ancient building used for rituals , including asite called Sandbergin Austria that was once occupied by Celts , according to the study .
" The comportment of these likely sacred features at Němčice argue the character of the site not only as a trade and production inwardness , " Čižmář said , " but also as a seat of an elite and ritual mall . "
