Medieval gold ring and tens of thousands of relics found in Sweden (3 photos)

During two years of excavations in the Swedish city of Kalmar, archaeologists discovered more than 30,000 artifacts. Among the finds are a gold ring with an image of Christ and a crystal amulet with carvings.





A team from the State Historical Museums excavated about 50 medieval sites, a dozen streets and fragments of the old city wall. These discoveries provide a glimpse into daily life spanning approximately 400 years, from 1250 to 1650.

Lead archaeologist Magnus Stiebeus said: "We've been able to lift the curtain on the city's medieval past and explore how people lived, what they ate and drank, and how things changed over time. Archeology becomes a window into medieval history, giving us a better understanding of what life was like hundreds of years ago."



Among the unique finds are a rare amulet and a gold ring.

The ring, decorated with an image of Christ, dates back to the 15th century. It is small in size and probably belonged to a woman. Similar items were discovered in other regions of the country, Östergötland and Uppland.

Second Relic: Alsengem, also known as the Pilgrim's Amulet.

Alsengem are small crystal stones found in both religious and secular contexts. Dating from the 13th to 14th centuries, this stone is decorated with three elaborately carved figures. The stone is broken, most likely thrown away about 400 years ago.



Also discovered were numerous cannonballs, musket and pistol bullets, swords and other artifacts from the 1611 Squid War, during which the Danes attacked the city. An unusual rune stone was discovered among the ruins.

Magnus Stiebeus admitted: “It’s unusual to explore such large areas in the city center, and the result exceeded all expectations.”