650-Year Old Buried Treasure Found in Austrian Backyard
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Officials from Austria's department of national antiquities and the Academy of Sciences said they were only at the beginning of their investigation into a wealth of medieval jewelry and other precious objects found in an Austrian man's backyard. (AP Photo/Lilli Strauss)
"We have in front of us high-end products (made) for the highest consumer class of Central Europe" of the Middle Ages, academy member Thomas Kuehtreiber told reporters as security guards lifted a black velvet cloth from a glass case to reveal some of the rarer pieces. (AP Photo/Lilli Strauss)
The Federal Office for Memorials said the trove consists of more than 200 rings, brooches, ornate belt buckles, gold-plated silver plates and other pieces or fragments, many encrusted with pearls, fossilized coral and other ornaments. It says the objects are about 650 years old and weigh about 6.6 pounds (3 kilograms). (AP Photo/Lilli Strauss)
Some of the more stunning objects on display Monday included a delicately formed brooch adorned with pearls and coral and a ring inlaid with an amethyst-like semiprecious stone. (AP Photo/Lilli Strauss)
Some of the more stunning objects on display Monday included a delicately formed brooch adorned with pearls and coral and a ring inlaid with an amethyst-like semiprecious stone. (AP Photo/Lilli Strauss)