Nearly 30 years after the initial discovery of the Erfurt Treasure, four additional pieces have surfaced that can be attributed to the collection of local Jewish cultural history. According to Die Zeit, these four pieces are parts of Gothic garment fasteners that were secured during a search of a private individual's property. "The sheer number is small," said Sven Ostritz, the President of the State Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology, during the presentation of the four pieces in Erfurt. He emphasized, "Every, even the smallest piece, is an enormous gain."
Three of the fasteners are counterparts to already known parts of the treasure, while one fastening piece is new, explained Christian Tannhäuser, Regional Referent at the State Office. The unexpected discovery adds context to the original find, enriching the understanding of the region's medieval Jewish heritage.
The Erfurt Treasure was discovered in 1998 during construction work on a property in the old town of Erfurt, near the Old Synagogue, under the wall of a cellar access. The find was considered a sensation. Experts, such as art historian Maria Stürzebecher, suspect that a Jewish banker hid his family possessions there before a pogrom against the Jewish community in 1349. The treasure includes more than 3,000 silver coins, silver bars, and hundreds of goldsmith pieces. Among the items are garment fasteners and other objects that were in daily use.
At the beginning of the year, a person involved in the 1998 work came forward. This individual stated that they were in possession of pieces of the treasure and offered to hand them over to the responsible authorities for money. As a result, the Erfurt Public Prosecutor's Office was involved, which initiated the securing of the objects during a search. "There was a need for action," said Ostritz. According to him, there was a danger that the objects could be sold elsewhere and taken abroad.
The State Office assumes that the person unlawfully took the garment fasteners at that time. According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, the alleged criminal offense of embezzlement is time-barred. However, a formal procedure for the confiscation of the pieces is ongoing. A Thuringian law on the protection of cultural monuments applies, according to which objects whose owners can no longer be determined become the property of the Free State.
"It cannot be ruled out that there are still other previously unknown objects of the treasure," said Ostritz. Until the conclusion of the confiscation procedure, the State Office is now properly storing the objects. "After that, urgently needed restoration work must be carried out," said Tannhäuser. Subsequently, more detailed investigations should follow.
Written with the help of a news-analysis system.