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A remarkable hoard of gold jewelry dating back 3,500 years has been unearthed during archaeological excavations at the ancient site of Kolona on the Greek island of Aegina. This exceptional discovery, announced by the Greek Ministry of Culture, provides a fascinating new glimpse into the wealth, elite identity, and extensive trade networks of the Middle Bronze Age Aegean.
The glittering finds were made during the 2025 excavation season led by the University of Salzburg in cooperation with the Austrian Archaeological Institute in Athens. The research team, directed by Professor Alexander Sokolicek and supervised by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Piraeus and Islands, made the discovery while exploring a large stone-built structure located just outside the defensive wall of the Middle Bronze Age settlement’s expansion, an area often referred to as the “inner suburb.”
A Strikingly Coherent Jewelry Set
Within a trench opened inside this structure, archaeologists uncovered a strikingly consistent group of precious artifacts that had remained remarkably well-preserved. The hoard includes eight bipartite discoid gold pendants, one additional gold discoid pendant, seven biconical gold beads, one cylindrical gold bead, and eight decorative gold foil lamellae. Adding a vibrant contrast to the gleaming gold were seven spherical beads carved from carnelian, a semi-precious stone.
Gold biconical beads from the Kolona hoard (Ministry of Culture – Hellenic Republic)
Researchers believe that all of these exquisite pieces likely belonged to a single, elaborate gold necklace or suspended ornament. Alongside the jewelry, the team also recovered twelve copper fragments, possibly the remnants of small tools such as knives, as well as a metal pin or needle. The artifacts date to the first half of the second millennium BC, placing them firmly within the Middle Bronze Age.
The Mystery of the Missing Burial
Although the soil layers where the hoard was found had been disturbed at some unknown time in the past, the coherent nature of the artifacts strongly suggests a specific original context. Archaeologists hypothesize that these precious ornaments were originally intended as grave goods, meant to accompany a high-status individual in a Middle Bronze Age burial.
Gold discoid pendants from the Kolona hoard (Ministry of Culture – Hellenic Republic)
However, no physical evidence of a preserved tomb or skeletal remains was found in association with the hoard. This absence of a direct burial context is not entirely unusual in Aegean archaeology, where ancient looting or later construction activities often erase the traces of tombs. Without a clear burial structure, researchers must rely on comparative analysis to understand the significance of the find.
Links to the Controversial Aegina Treasure
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the newly discovered Kolona hoard is its striking stylistic similarity to the famous “Aegina Treasure.” This controversial collection of prehistoric gold jewelry, adorned with precious and semi-precious stones, was illicitly removed from the island of Aegina in the late 19th century. Since 1892, the Aegina Treasure has been housed in the British Museum in London.
Aegina Treasure beads from the British Museum (Einsamer Schütze / CC BY-SA 3.0)
The formal parallels between the new finds, particularly the distinctive discoid pendants, and the pieces in the British Museum suggest a shared artistic and symbolic tradition. These similarities reinforce the theory that Aegina was not merely a peripheral settlement but a central hub in the complex exchange systems of the Middle Bronze Age, with long-distance trade routes connecting it to mainland Greece, the Cyclades, and Minoan Crete. The presence of non-local materials like gold and carnelian further highlights the island’s integration into these extensive networks.
Kolona: A Site of Enduring Significance
The archaeological site of Kolona, situated on the northwestern coast of Aegina near the modern port, is a location of immense historical depth. While it is perhaps best known today for the iconic 6th-century BC Temple of Apollo—whose single remaining column gives the hill its name—the site boasts a continuous history of habitation.
From a thriving prehistoric settlement to a classical-era sanctuary, the acropolis of the ancient city, and a later Byzantine community, Kolona has been a focal point of life on the island for millennia. The latest discovery of this magnificent gold hoard confirms that despite decades of intensive archaeological investigation, the hill of Kolona still holds significant secrets, continuing to enrich our understanding of the ancient Aegean world.
Top image: Aerial view of the archaeological site of Kolona, Aegina, where the gold hoard was discovered. Source: Ministry of Culture – Hellenic Republic
By Gary Manners
References
Archaeology Newsroom. 2026. Valuable finds at Kolona, Aegina. Archaeology Wiki. Available at: https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2026/04/23/valuable-finds-at-kolona-aegina/
Kokkinidis, T. 2026. A Golden Discovery: Rare Bronze Age Jewelry Unearthed on Aegina, Greece. GreekReporter.com. Available at: https://greekreporter.com/2026/04/23/gold-bronze-age-jewelry-unearthed-aegina-greece/
Leman, A. 2026. 3,500-Year-Old Gold Jewelry Set Unearthed in Aegina Linked to Mysterious Bronze Age Treasure. Arkeonews. Available at: https://arkeonews.net/3500-year-old-gold-jewelry-set-unearthed-in-aegina-linked-to-mysterious-bronze-age-treasure/
Ministry of Culture, Hellenic Republic. 2026. Πολύτιμα ευρήματα στην Κολώνα Αίγινας. Available at: https://www.culture.gov.gr/el/Information/SitePages/view.aspx?nID=5655