Archaeologists have discovered the largest European stockpile of ancient iron ingots in northern Bosnia, an archaeological find that could reshape the historical role of the region in early trade and metallurgy, according to the Greek Reporter website. Within just two days of excavation along the Sava River in the Bosanska Posavina canton, researchers uncovered hundreds of double-pyramid iron bars believed to be over 2,000 years old — far exceeding the number found anywhere else in Europe. These iron ingots, used by ancient blacksmiths to make tools, weapons, and everyday items, are rarely found in such quantities. Before this discovery, only a few examples were known in museum collections in France, Germany, Slovenia, and Sarajevo. The exceptional volume recovered from a single site in Bosnia suggests the area once held major economic and logistical importance and was possibly a center for iron trade during the late Iron Age.

The discovery began when local historian and museum collaborator Pero Matkic noticed fragments of unusual iron objects near the riverbank, documented the findings, and alerted Croatian archaeologists, prompting an immediate investigation. A team led by underwater archaeologist Kronoslav Zubsetic from the Croatian Institute for Environmental Protection in Zagreb and Nikica Spodic from the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service in Karlovac was promptly assembled to begin excavation and recovery. Preliminary analyses indicate the ingots date to the 1st or 2nd century BCE, placing them in a transitional period between La Tène culture and Roman influence. According to Jozo Gizerchic, director of the Franciscan Monastery Museum “Frata Bosne” in Tolisa, the iron bars were likely part of a cargo that sank while being transported across the river, possibly due to a storm or conflict.

The vessel itself likely drifted away or disintegrated over time, but the heavy metal cargo remained buried in the riverbed. To preserve and study the site precisely, archaeologists used photogrammetry to create a 3D model and mapped fixed reference points. Each ingot was carefully documented, extracted, and placed in distilled water to prevent corrosion before further restoration. Zubsetic said the next phase will include chemical tests to determine the metal’s source, which could reveal links to ancient mining areas and trade routes across Central Europe. These findings are believed to offer unprecedented insights into the economic networks that existed in Bosanska Posavina long before Roman rule.