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Archaeologists in Bavaria made a rare find last week: during excavations in the Swabian town of Nördlingen, experts discovered a bronze sword that is more than 3,000 years old, the State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments announced Wednesday. This is so well preserved, "that it almost still shines".

It is an octagonal sword, whose octagonal handle is made entirely of bronze. According to a preliminary classification, it dates from the late 14th century BC and thus from the Middle Bronze Age, it said. Sword finds from this era are rare, they said. The experts also suspect that the find is a bronze full hilt sword, that is, a weapon that was used for fighting.

The now discovered sword comes from a grave with rich bronze grave goods. A man, a woman and a youth were buried in it. The possible relationship between the persons is still unclear.

The production of octagonal swords is complex, because the handle is cast over the blade (so-called overcasting). The decoration