A unique steel glove from the 14th century, remarkably well-preserved, has been discovered at Kyburg Castle in Pfäffikon, Switzerland.
This new archaeological discovery is considered rare, as only five other gloves from the same period have been found in Switzerland, none of which are as well-preserved as the one recently unearthed at Kyburg Castle.
According to the Zurich state infrastructure agency, this ancient steel glove was crafted for the left hand. It is extremely well-preserved, with numerous design and decorative details clearly visible to the naked eye. Zurich officials speculate that this could be the type of steel glove used by ancient European soldiers and knights.
A unique steel glove from the 14th century, remarkably well-preserved, has been discovered at Kyburg Castle in Pfäffikon, Switzerland. (Photo: Zurich State Infrastructure Agency).
Crafted with meticulous attention to durability and flexibility, this steel glove incorporates various components that are interconnected. In fact, it consists of individual metal plates arranged like scales, with these parts connected through rivets to create a flexible glove that adapts easily when worn. This also reflects the high level of design skill possessed by ancient craftsmen of that era.
Lorena Burkhardt, the head of the excavation project, remarked: “This discovery is shocking due to its age and state of preservation. Most of the gloves discovered previously date back to at least the 15th century.”
Currently, many questions remain to be deciphered regarding the development of this design, who the inventor of this steel glove was, who used it, and how many similar items can be found throughout Switzerland. Lorena Burkhardt also acknowledged that the exploration is in its early stages, aiming to gain further insights into the rarity of these Medieval objects. The new steel glove is currently being kept at the archaeological office in Dübendorf.
In addition to the steel glove, the recent archaeological excavation at Kyburg Castle in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, also uncovered a Medieval weaving pit containing three looms, which were destroyed by a fire in the 14th century. Furthermore, a blacksmith’s forge belonging to an unknown blacksmith was discovered, along with over 50 well-preserved metal objects including hammers, keys, hinges, writing tools, hand drills, and projectiles.
- “Yangtze River Monster”: Weighing over 600kg, can be up to 8m long, too heavy for four people to carry
- Beijing’s Temple of Heaven has a “mysterious” door, Qianlong wrote three characters, only one person passed through in a hundred years
- Close-up of the five newly recognized national treasures of Thang Long Imperial Citadel and Co Loa
