A Greek mountaineer has discovered a 6,500-year-old gold pendant in a field and has handed it over to local authorities.
The flat pendant, measuring 3.8 x 3.8 cm, was found in the town of Ptolemaida. It is believed to have religious significance and may have been worn by a high-ranking member of society. Archaeologist Georgia Karamitrou-Mendesidi from Greece stated that only three such artifacts have been discovered so far during excavations in the area.
“This dates back to the Neolithic period. During this time, we know very little about how people used metals, especially gold. The fact that it’s made of gold demonstrates that people back then were quite advanced in gold crafting technology.”
Circa 4,500 BC, when the gold piece was created, Neolithic settlements in Greece were organized into trading centers with sophisticated metalworking knowledge.
Last November, archaeologists also uncovered two farm sites dating back to 6,000 BC in the Ptolemaida region. There, they found graves, clay and stone figurines, pottery, and stone tools.
M.T.
