'Extraordinary' 14th-century armoured gauntlets unearthed in Switzerland

This new archaeological discovery is considered rare, as only five other gloves from the same period have been discovered in Switzerland so far, but none are as well preserved as the glove recently found at Kyburg Castle.

According to the Zurich infrastructure agency, the ancient armored gauntlet was designed to be worn on the left hand. It is very well preserved, with many design details and decorations clearly visible to the naked eye. Zurich officials speculate that it may be the type of armored gauntlet used by ancient European soldiers and knights.

A unique and well-preserved 14th-century armoured gauntlet has been discovered at Kyburg Castle in Pfäffikon, Switzerland. (Photo: Zurich Infrastructure Authority)

Crafted with meticulous attention to durability and flexibility, this armored gauntlet combines several different components that are joined together. They are actually individual metal plates arranged like scales, connected via rivets to create a flexible, adaptable glove that fits comfortably on the hand. This also reflects the high level of design skills of the ancients of that era.

“The discovery is shocking because of its age and state of preservation,” said Lorena Burkhardt, who led the new excavation project. “Most gloves previously discovered date back to the 15th century at the earliest.”

There are still many questions to be answered regarding the development of this type of design, who invented the steel glove, who used it, how many similar ones can be found across Switzerland?... Lorena Burkhardt also admitted that the exploration work is in its early stages, aiming to understand more about the rarity of these objects in the Middle Ages. The new steel glove is currently kept at the archaeological office in Dubendorf.

In addition to the aforementioned armored glove, a new archaeological dig at the Kyburg Castle site in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, also uncovered a medieval weaving cellar containing three looms, which were destroyed by fire in the 14th century. A mysterious blacksmith’s forge was also discovered, along with more than 50 well-preserved metal objects including hammers, keys, hinges, writing instruments, hand drills, and bullets.

HUYNH DUNG (Source: Interestingengineering/Jpost)

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