Stradonice - today it is 140 years since the discovery of the treasure

There are some finds that make searchers hold their breath, but there are also some that have made many searchers actually start searching. And then there are finds that have made many people decide to go on to study archaeology. The treasure that was found in 1877 at the Stradonice hillfort is exactly the kind of treasure that managed to spark the gold rush of the time and got a number of people to take a deeper interest in archaeology.

From the contemporary press...

Treasure found. In the fields called "na Hradišti" near the village of Stradonice near Křivoklát, poor people find a large number of bones and dig quite deep in the field. There has been a rumour for a long time that there are great treasures buried here. The rumour was all the more true because various silver and gold coins were often found in the fields during ploughing. Last Thursday a workman was again searching for bones, and at a depth of about 15 inches, found a rusty iron pot. He broke it with a hoe, and out of the pot rolled a quantity of gold pennies. The worker exclaimed loudly : "God, that's gold !", whereupon the other workers & their wives immediately came running, grabbed the gold money and quickly ran home with it, where they hid it. The money was round or square, of various sizes, and bearing various insignia, such as : swords, shields, heads of horses and dragons, etc. Not one of them bears a year. In total, about 200 pieces have been traced so far. Various other antiquities such as rings, needles, arrowheads, etc. have also been found in the fields. Unfortunately, the workers sold the full baskets of antique items found to Jews for fatka.

Narodni Listy No.214, Monday, August 6, 1877

Coins found. In the village of Stradonicich (district of Křivoklát) people are now searching in the fields called "na Hradiště" for bones, which are found in abundance. Old silver and gold money has often been found in these fields, and a rumour persists among the people that a treasure is buried here. On the 2nd of this year a workman was digging in the field and here at a depth of about three feet and came upon a clay pot. When he struck it, a quantity of gold money poured out, so that the workman cried out, "God, it is gold!" The other workers digging nearby were also on the spot immediately, and each one was looking to get what he could from the money. It is impossible to know whether there was much money, for some people, for fear of having to return the money, deny that they had any. So far it has been ascertained that there were about 170 coins of various kinds in the pot. On some of them are crossed swords, on others a cross, horses' heads, a dragon, etc., but they have no year. This find is very interesting, and it should be noted that old things such as rings, pins, arrows, dice, armour, etc. are found in abundance in these fields.

Progress 6.8.1877

Old Coins. We have already mentioned the discovery of gold coins near Křivoklát in the fields called "Hradiště". All the coins are cast and weigh about 2 ducats each. The bulging side probably indicates that they are cast, whereas the other side is minted. On the cast side is a crescent with a star, on the other side is a sun. Smaller coins, also cast, have been found in these places before. These coins are probably of Celtic origin. In 1861 the numismatist Dr. Vulpi of Milan found similar coins in Carinthia; and he sent them to all the museums of the world to see if similar coins could be found there. Only the Petrobrad museum had similar coins, dating from the Celtic period.Apparently the "Castle" is a former Celtic burial site and the things found here are very interesting for archaeologists.

Progress 8.8.1877

Gold money found. A large quantity of old gold money was found not long ago in a field near Hradiště in the region of Rakovník. A company in Vienna has descended and has already asked the board of directors in Stradonice whether the field might not be for sale. He also made an inquiry for buyers from Prague. On Sunday, several Pragueers made a trip there and brought back pieces of the find as a souvenir.

Pražský deník , 14 August 1877

Treasure found. We mentioned a few days ago that a workman found a large treasure on the hill "Hradiště" near Stradonice, outside Beroun, while digging in the field. Since then, the surrounding villages have been almost overrun with antique lovers. From a friendly party we learn the following further details : Mrs. Lehmann, the wife of an art dealer in Prague, is a keen collector of antiques. Her collection excels in richness and surprises everyone by its expert arrangement. As soon as she learned of the antiquities found at the "Hradiste", Mrs. Lehmann hurried to the site to obtain at least some pieces for her collection. She found that numerous agents had already treated the country people as they should, so that they became very distrustful. She also learned that for many years poor people had been digging up bones in the field at the "Castle", which they then sold to nearby factories. Bones are found there in great abundance in the fields, and as this year the poor are in great poverty, they were looking for this their only income, picking bones in the fields from morning till night. They dug up an immense number of them, without the two Czech professors, who had just been delayed there, noticing the finds more closely. They could easily have saved many precious antiquities from destruction. The bones found were simply taken away, sold, taken to factories and ground into meal.

In this way many a precious antique was certainly destroyed. Mrs. Lehmann, visiting the fields at Hradiste, diligently collected antiquities and indeed succeeded in saving many rarities which are still unique in Bohemia. Thus she found various saws, files, chisels, knives, knives and beautiful spoons, mostly made of bones and well preserved, glass, arabesque earrings, bracelets, etc., very many ornaments of amber, an iron ring, various iron implements, spears, spikes, arrows, horseshoes, etc., and some bronze ornaments, but the last only in various forms. As a curiosity we must mention the many square dice beautifully decorated withof which a large number were found, but most of them were sold and thus destroyed. Mrs. Lehmann has also acquired many other rare antiques, such as hatches for yours, generally very finely worked, various wheels, spindles, grinders, stone mills, etc. The individual decorations of pots, jugs, etc., are universally admired, being remarkably finely executed with instruments which are, however, quite primitive. In all, Mrs. Lehmann has acquired over six hundred of these antiques, which are on public display. Among others, two perfectly preserved skulls with teeth also perfectly preserved and as white as snow were found. But the skulls were smashed and the bones piled up.

As soon as the people of Prague learned of the treasure they had found, they rushed to the "Hradiště", each one looking for at least one precious penny to call his own. This money was bulging on one side and had either half a horse's head or a rising moon, a rainbow, etc., and a horseshoe on the other side. They weighed generally 2 and a half ducats. Mrs. Lehmann did her utmost to obtain at least one of them, which after much effort she succeeded in doing at a cost of 20 zlotys, which she paid to the finder, the gravedigger. The gravedigger further told her that since time immemorial a rumour had been circulating in the neighbourhood that great treasures were hidden in the fields. His own father, on his deathbed, had also told him about it, and had told him that when he was sick he should dig in the fields to find the great treasure. The son did so. He dug for over three days quite comfortably, and when he had removed the rest of the wall to a depth of about a fathom, he found a large cup containing gold money. The gravedigger remained as if petrified, and began to call loudly for people to help him.

Hearing this, the citizens, who had been snooping around the bones, ran to wherever they were and collected money. He collected a hatful himself. Fearing that it would be stolen, he buried it in the cemetery. From there he took it to the church and hid it behind the altar. Even here he was not sure of his treasure, for on the very next day he was approached by Jews in particular, who threatened that the authorities would confiscate the money and arrest him. They offered him a reward, but he was afraid to sell the money at home. He took the money and went to Prague, where he sold it to the moneylenders, receiving 15 to 18 zlotys apiece. The poor gravedigger took home more than 6,000 zlotys, but he was still angry with fear, fearing that he would be arrested! When he saw the gendarmes in the station in Beroun, he had no other thought than that he was being arrested. He carefully slipped away from them and hurried home as fast as he could. On the table he found a summons from the mayor. He went to him and, throwing him seven pieces of gold pieces, escaped. But the next day the mayor visited him, returned him the gold pieces, and said that he only wanted to see them. It has been a rumour among the people there since ancient times that there is a vault at the wall, in the centre of which is a...a life-size golden duck with 12 golden eggs, a golden calf in the next niche, etc. And all this treasure is to be found by those who first come upon the golden duck in the antechamber. It goes without saying that the country people are now looking all the harder for the treasures they have hidden.

National Letters No. 219, August 11, 1877

Treasure found. To our previous report on the treasure found at Hradiště u Stradonice (outside Beroun) we add that several Viennese businessmen have turnedThese days, several Viennese citizens of Vienna have approached the mayor of that place with a request to purchase the land on which the treasure and antiquities were found, as well as the neighbouring land, for a fair price. The mayor gave no answer, whereupon the cooperative made inquiries by telegraph, but without result, since the mayor is already negotiating with several friends of Czech antiquities to purchase the interesting field themselves. The result is not yet known. The castle is now still visited by numerous friends of antiquities and the found pieces are sold for a good price. The country people, however, regret it too late that the antiquities, bones, etc. They are looking to monetize the various remnants of tools, bones shot from bones, or shards from ashtrays, etc.

There is a great demand especially for old money, for which 40 to 60 zlotys are already paid. On Sunday many Pragueers went to Hradiště, each of them trying to get at least one gold piece. After much questioning and pleading, one family sold 60 of them secretly and between four eyes. Mrs. Lehmann, a well-known collector of antiques, again bought many rare pieces in Hradiště, which will be a great decoration of her collection. Among others, she acquired a well-preserved, very old skull, which was found six feet deep in the grave. It is high time that the experts called upon to examine the Castle thoroughly and, especially for our museum, to save what can still be saved.

Národní Listy No. 222, Tuesday 14 August 1877

Treasure found. The village of Stradonice near Beroun has become famous not only in Bohemia, but also abroad, as a result of the discovery of a chic treasure. The hill called Hradiště is incessantly promoted by numerous foreigners and friends of antiquities, and there are agents in the neighbourhood who buy every antique for cash. In the fields called under the cross, and especially on the land of Mr. Maleček, gold money was found many years ago, but no one noticed it more closely. It has been proved that Mr. Maleček's ploughman brought a plough home from a wet field and two gold coins were found on wheels in the mud the next day. A large number of bones were found during ploughing in the fields, which are still equipped with ancient and somewhat preserved bastions. Nobody noticed it until the great scarcity caused by the stoppage of work in the mills drove the poor inhabitants to look for bones to sell to the nearby sugar mills. There is an amazing abundance of bones in the fields, but they only appear in a certain width and measured length. It is generally believed that there was a pagan burial ground here, and judging from the gold money and all sorts of ornaments found, it was a burial ground of the Celtic period.

The golden money is certainly recognised by experts as dating from the Celtic period and is more than a thousand years old. Only six kinds of gold money have been found so far. Most of the money found was as large as a kreutzar; 210 such pieces were bought by the local moneyer, Mr. M., at the coal market. Other kinds of gold money are rarer. They have various decorations, such as rainbows, horse heads and moons with stars, etc. Little of this money has been found. They are also as large as a krejcar, and lucky finders sell them for as much as 50 zlotys. And more dearly, and even at this price unwillingly. In the last few days numerous other gold coins about the size of a lens have been found. On one side the sun and rays, on the other a horse's head. Very numerous inquiries are now reaching the mayor in Stradonice from foreigners. They beg him to save the antiquities and buy them at any price. The inhabitants of the neighbouring villages are now digging continuously, and the work is paying off in the present harsh times.

None of our archaeologists has yet expressed an expert opinion about the rare find from Stradonice. The conical hillock, which according to the opinion of everyone who has visited the Hradiště was made by human hands, arouses the interest of the visitor the most. It is generally believed that this is the tomb of the leaders buried here and it would be desirable that at least this cone be properly examined. A widespread rumour in the neighbourhood says that in this mound is a golden duck with 12 eggs and a golden calf. A special company has already come together in Vienna to purchase the land under the cross and the neighbouring land from Mr Maleček; but Mr Maleček, a resolute nationalist, will not sell the field to a foreigner, even for a higher price. Yesterday, we learn, several citizens of Prague went to Hradiště, intending to buy the field and to preserve the antiquities found in the country. Mrs. Lehmann, a well-known antique collector, has bought a rare antique from the Hradiště finds. It is a lime leaf made of pure gold, about one and a half inches long and beautifully made. She also purchased a well-preserved reindeer head, bronze assorted bracelets, beautifully crafted iron keys, handles, clasps, holdersand ring handles, a beautifully made and well-preserved bone comb, and a large number of other rare antiques.

National Letters No. 222, Tuesday, August 21, 1877

Antiquities found. We supplement our reports of the antiquities on the hill of Hradiste as follows. On the northern part, opposite the village of Nová Hut', it is the steepest and extends from there almost in a regular semicircle to the west. Towards the east from the village of Stradonice, as well as towards the south, Hradiště is separated from the other hills by many conical hills and quite steep hills. At the foot of Hradiště is a fairly flat plain and it is not surprising that strategists in ancient, perhaps already prehistoric times recognized this place as very important for defence and fortified it properly. This is evidenced by the still largely preserved bastions opposite Nová Hut on a steep hill in a semicircle.

There are five bastions in total. According to the ancient weapons and the way of warfare, these bastions must have been completely impregnable at least from this side. The plain on the hill itself at Hradiště is covered with numerous small hills and the whole area can be walked around in an hour. The soil is mostly stony, and only about a third is quite fertile, and the topsoil reaches in places as deep as a fathom. The excavated antiquities are still among the most memorable that have ever been found in Bohemia. They are truly amazing in number. Antiquities are only excavated here "in bulk". Many experts believe that Hradiště was taken from an enemy tribe after a long round...the inhabitants were murdered and the Castle was razed to the ground and demolished. Otherwise, one cannot imagine the enormous amount of tools, implements, ornaments, etc., that were found. On the most narrow northern outcropping on the top of a steep hill an amazing variety of things were found. In a length of about twenty, and in a breadth of two or three fathoms, every kick in the ground brought up some antiquity. The fattest topsoil, doubtless either bound up or formed by the passage of time, is about three quarters of a fathom deep....in which we look in vain for the slightest stone, while the surrounding country is strewn with stones for a considerable distance. Beneath the topsoil there is a layer of ashes about half a fathom high, and underneath it a soil which bears signs of having been used to light cremations in honour of the gods. It is still red and hard.

The writer of this report asked a workman to dig through this layer. The workman did so, and came to a depth of about half a cubit on the rock. In both the upper and lower ash layers the most memorable antiquities have been found in truth in amazing quantities. Pieces of coal were found in the ashes themselves, one of which was as big as a fist; unfortunately the workman, thinking it worthless, threw it away. In particular, broom needles, chisels, spoons, knives, combs, saws, and various other pointed and sharpened instruments were found here, the purpose of which cannot now be explained. Many pennies of these things were found here and sold to the neighbouring sugar factories for 80 kroner, where they were destroyed. A large number of bronze objects were also found in the ash layer, such as pins, clasps, chains and other various ornaments, generally well preserved and of considerable archaeological value. Furthermore, an extraordinary quantity of animal bones was found here, at least two hundred cents of which were taken away. Here or there, the searchers also came across shards of various kinds of earthenware vessels, which were beautifully decorated and adorned with various images of animals or human heads.

It is unfortunate that not a single vessel has yet been recovered, in spite of all care. It is also remarkable the great number of cuttings found, of various kinds and sizes, which are mostly made of stone, which is not found in the whole neighbourhood. Stones with which the grain was crushed and ground were also found. These stones were very well preserved and had a square hole in which a wedge had undoubtedly been driven, and the grain had been crushed by turning it round and round. One workman also found a stone slab two cubits distant and one cubit wide. It had been very finely smoothed. For what purpose it was used is not yet known. He also unearthed several stone threshing-floors, hammers, etc., and many round stones, which, at least in the vicinity, we would have looked for in vain, and which were undoubtedly used for slings. The most remarkable thing that has been found here so far is, without contradiction, a mould for casting gold money. It is a stone about as large as a fist, in the hollowed-out part of which is found a sun with rays. Into this mould the molten gold was cast, and into the other part the crescent was artificially engraved by hand, which is best proved by the fact that the crescent is different in every money, whereas the sun is the same in all. Besides this, another stone was dug up, in which a mould for a lime leaf was cut. Both moulds were still covered with the remains of golden cast iron. In the uppermost layer, various iron objects were also found, which certainly date from a later period. Among the rarest antiquities we must count four gold rings, which were found, but quite primitive.

V one ring is set with an amethyst, and the ring is so large that it can be judged from it to represent the small giants that embraced the Bohemian homeland thousands of years ago. It weighs over ten ducats. Two of the rings are bronze, and the work on them is truly artistic. Most striking is the vast amount of amber that is scattered all over Hradiště. Amber cannot be found anywhere in Bohemia and must therefore have been brought here from the Baltic countries. Equally interesting are the various pot lids made of baked clay with various signs and decorations, which no one has yet been able to decipher. Only a few money pieces and an idol about a quarter of a cubit long, bought by an unknown Viennese merchant, have been found of silver. The greater part of the gold money found has been saved and is in the hands of experts who will be able to value it properly. Only it is not yet known who bought the gold bracelet, which weighed over fifty ducats, the largest item that was unearthed at Hradiste. The bracelet disappeared without a trace, which is to be regretted. We must also mention the several completely preserved human and animal skulls found at Hradiště, and the large number of antlers, teeth and bones. Nowhere in Bohemia has such an abundance of antiquities been found as at Hradiště, and it would be desirable that more attention should be paid to this hill by more competent circles than has hitherto been the case. These antiquities date at least for the most part from the Celtic period.

Národní Listy, Sunday 26th August 1877

140 years since the discovery

As written one paragraph above, August 2 will mark 140 years since the memorable find. If you would like to learn more, I recommend the CD Hradiště u Stradonic, published by Petr Havlínek.

Monument at the site of the discovery of the hoard of gold coins placed on the 130th anniversary of the discovery. Even though I was kind of messing around with the preparations (there was a lot of discussion in the pub ) in the end I unfortunately did not attend the event. I still regret it to this day.

But we do occasionally go to see if the memorial is OK. We also cleaned the iris a couple of times.