A 14th-century gauntlet found near Kyburg Castle in Switzerland is far better preserved than other similar artifacts found in the country.Credit...Martin Bachmann/Construction Department of the Canton of Zurich
The New York Times has an article about the discovery of medieval armor in Switzerland. The stunningly preserved gauntlet dates to the 14th century. It was found near Kyburg Castle, northeast of Zurich. Excavators made the discovery in 2022 prior to construction work that would have destroyed any artifacts at the site, which was a medieval town. A hammer, tongs, tweezers, and keys were also found. Those artifacts probably indicate blacksmith work was performed in the area.
The gauntlet would likely have been worn by a medieval soldier or a knight, but so far it’s unclear who wore it and for what purpose.
“We know of tombstones of knights from the 14th century who wore similar gauntlets,” Ms. Burkhardt said. “Ultimately, however, we cannot say whether the gauntlets were actually made for a knight or for someone else who needed to equip himself for war.”
But there are clues pointing to the wearer’s high status. “What is certain is that the gloves were made to a high standard and the purchase of such pieces of armor was correspondingly expensive,” Ms. Burkhardt said. “It is therefore likely that the gloves were intended for a noble or other high-ranking person.”
