A discovery that changes the history of art, made possible through physical and digital techniques. The amazing masterpiece appearing in the images following does not belong to the classical period. It has been discovered in an unearthed 1,500-year-old tomb of a Bronze Age warrior or priest in southwest Greece, in the area of Pylos! An incredible trove of riches has emerged, including four gold signet rings that have challenged accepted wisdom among archaeologists about the origins of Greek civilization.  The miniature (only 3.6 cm)   belongs to a Minoan worrier buried there, after a battle.

It took more than one year to the scientists of the University of Cincinnati to clean and restore the object.

As the intricate details of the seal’s design emerged, the researchers were shocked to discover they had unearthed no less than a masterpiece.

“Looking at the image for the first time was a very moving experience, and it still is,” said Stocker. “It’s brought some people to tears.”

The researchers made available digital detailed images of the object and even reconstructed the face of the worrier, who possible was the owner of the seal, that takes the history of high art one thousand years earlier and changes our vision of the origins of the Greek classical art.

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Unearthing a masterpiece

University of Cincinnati team’s stunning discovery of a rare Minoan sealstone in the treasure-laden tomb of a Bronze Age Greek warrior promises to rewrite the history of ancient Greek art.

Nov. 6, 2017
Rachel Richardson

 

 

A Minoan sealstone reveals a hand-to-hand combat sceneMinoan-made sealstone encrusted in limestone

 

 

 

 

An artist's sketch of the combat scene on a sealstone discovered in a Bronze Age tomb

 

Reconstructed face of the Griffin Warrior