Getting Your Archeology Geek On

The gauntlet and its partially intact mate


AssembledArcheologists in Switzerland have found a completely intact 14th century gauntlet.

These are not common finds.

Given the necessarily finer nature of the work required to accommodate the motions of a human hand, very few have survived to this day, and far fewer fully intact:

A press conference by the Canton of Zurich has announced the discovery of an intact medieval gauntlet dated to the 14th century.

The object was found during excavations to the southeast of Kyburg Castle, located in Kyburg in the district of Pfäffikon, Switzerland.

………

Excavations adjacent to the castle have found a medieval weaving cellar which was destroyed by fire during the 14th century, and traces of forging which is evidenced by the discovery of a mold and over 50 metal objects associated with smithing.

Archaeologists also found a hammer, tweezers, pliers, keys, knives, bullet points, and a completely preserved 14th century gauntlet, in addition to fragments of its counterpart worn on the other hand.

The intact gauntlet is a four-fold finger glove worn on the right hand, which has individual iron plates stacked like scales and linked together through side rivets. The individual glove components were fixed to the interior using supplementary rivets on a leather or textile base, which in turn was stitched onto the fabric.

Kewl.