However newest excavations showed that more than 2000 killometers from borders of greek civilizations biggest battle of bronze age took place, way bigger than fights between greek polis. In the region where you can only expect small skirmishes between villages we now know that the battle was pan european. Examinations of skeletons proved (by DNA research) that warriors came to fight and die from whole Europe - modern Italy, Poland, Scandinavia, Greece.
We only know one huge conflict from that times - halfmythic war of Troy, which was probably held in modern Turkey.
To show how important Tollense battle was we need to compare it to the biggest battle of middle ages: Grunwald Battle, which took place in 1410 AD and was fought by aprox. 50-100k knights, with result of 16k deaths. Excavations on Grunwald fields are taking place for 50 years and as for now we have found skeletons of 200 warriors, 10 crossbow bolts, 6 fragments of armoured gloves, few remains of sword and one axe.
In Tollense, after excavations 5-10% of battlefield archeologists (450sqm) found few thousand skeletal remains of at least 130 warriors, remains of 5 horses and huge amount of clubs, spears.
Region of Tollense was ruled 1000 years before battle by unique Unietyce culture, which created amazing Nebra Sky Disc, which is one of the first ever maps of sky, with sun, moon and stars (it might have been a bronze age calendar), predating other (Babylonian) sky maps by 1000 years.
Artefacts found on the battlefield can be connected to both cultures: Unietyce (2200-1600 BC) and Nordic/Lusatian (1300-400BC).
Unietyce culture introduced central Europe into Bronze Age, as the north and east of continent was still in stone age. Unietyce rapidly grew due to effective mining of crucial for Bronze Age tin and copper. This cuture was expanding in south-north route directions, by Odra river. Why? Because the trade route of amber and tin was extremly important for south Europe.
So as we know that the warriors of Tollense battle came from whole continent, the battle was definately more important than local skirmish. Quick look at regionalsituation in 1300/1200 BC will help us understand importance of the battle.
Before (1300BC) the battle of Tollense, the Indus Valley civilization collapsed, which was the biggest civilization of those times. At the same time the Lusatian culture started to expand.
Then the battle of Tollense took place.
After (1200BC) the battle ancient world was shocked by Late Bronze Age collapse, when Hetite, Egypt, Mykenis suddenly collapsed and went into dark ages for centuries. We believe that the mysterious People of the Sea were responsible for collapses.
So knowing that the warriors of Tollense came from mediterranean area and it political situation was very dynamic, we might suppose that the battle was directly connected with Late Bronze Age collapse. Especially by the fact that all of the fallen cultures were previously trading with Tollense region cultures. Pomerania, where the battle took place was the starting point for amber trade route. Fallen empires were on the main consumers of products of north. Batlic amber was recenty found insyrian Quatna royal tombs, Cyprus and on on the mummy of king Tut.
Events 2000 years later than the Tollense battle can show us more hints. In 9th century AD mighty nordic Vikings started to expand into central Europe. However they were stopped by Slavs in Pomeranian region. After that, they changed expansions directions into west and east of Europe. They conqured Russia, South Italy and England. Their invasions had significant influence in middle ages history - the Vikings started Norman dynasty in England, expelled Byzantium from south of Italy etc. In result Vikings changed Europe and started processes that caused end of middle ages.
So how about the same scenario 2000 years earlier? We don't know much about myserious organized groups that were able to create two armies. We only know that their expansion changed ancient Europe. Their migration (from north!) was a result of climate change. So what if the Tollense battle had impact on direction of expansion? What if the battle saved central Europe and inflicted collapse of south part of continent?
Unfortunately we do not have many archeologic proves from that times. However there are several clues that can show us that central Europe, Baltic Sea area was not as we think of it.
1. German bishop Adam from Bremen in 1080 AD wrote about the biggest city in Europe. Located on the delta of Odra river to the Baltic Sea. City was called Jumne where Slavs, Barbarians and Greeks lived together. So when in 1000 AD we had there greek traders and in 1250BC Italian warriors - was the legendary city real? We can be almost sure that delta of Odra was really important through millenias. Arab trader (and in fact spy for Callif Al-Hakam II) Ibrahin ibn Jakub also wrote that the west Pomeranian region was important and wealthy. Local ruler - Mieszko, even gave a camel as a gift to German Emperor Otto III. So knowing this we have another hint, that the region was far more advanced than we currently think. And we know that each culture does not emerge from zero, but come by processes and previous cultures.
Fun fact: Ibn Jakub writes also that few hundred kilometer east from Jumne there is a small only-women culture which is specialised in wars and trade. In modern times, in Mazury region (200 km from Odra river) there is a Frombork city, which name came from german Frauenburg, meaning City of Women.
2. Baltic origin of Troy. In 1995 Felice Vinci wrote a book which is extremly interesting with comparison to modern archeology findings. Baltic origins of Homers Epic Tales states that the mythic battle of Troy and long journey of Oddyseus did not took place in Anatolia and Greek coasts but in fact way further north - on North and Baltic Sea. When we look deeper into Oddysey and Illiad the descriptions of places, the climate does not fit to the regions of South Europe.
His thesis states that Greeks, which won over Trojans are in fact nordic people. And the Troy was not located as thought in Turkey but somewhere near Baltic Sea. For example Ogygia island, where Oddyseus was trapped for 7 years during his journey is located (according to Plutarch) 5 days of sailing from England. Homer stated that Ogygia island was cold, snowy and often foggy, where the sun in summer does not go down completly. The sea there is always dark and grey. So this island cannot be located on Mediterranean Sea, where snow does not fall, fogs are rare and the sun goes down every part of the year. You can fit the tales more accurately with Faroe Island, north of Denmark.
Even the general name of people from Homer Tales: Achaeans /Danaans shows interesting connections. Oddyseus was a hero of Dannans, where Homer states that they have created Mycenaean culture. However there are no proves that the greeks from Mycenaean culture called themselves in that way. Only Hyttite empire informs of Ahhiyawa people that came from the sea and attacked minor Asia and Cyprus (Ahhiyawa=Acheans?). Achilles, Achean hero was bragging in Illiad that he plundered 23 cities. So maybe Achaeans were not local greeks but the famous people of the Sea that emiggrated into south Europe?
3. But the real Troy was found!
In Hisarlik, Schliemann have found remains of walls, which he believed were the remains of ancient Troy. Yes, in fact the city was destroyed in 1250 AD. However his findings were controversial as he was famous for making shows instead of real excavations. Also the Homer's description of Troy does not fit with excavations. Hisarlik remains does not have geothermal water as descripted in Illiad, however Baltic region of Odra (especially Wolin Island) does. Newest excavations showed that the Hisarlik city was destroyed by earthquake and not by war. Even the famous Priam's treasure is 1000 years older than the battle of Troy. So the doubts about location of real Troy are rising. The Hisarlik was a important city, but not the hero of Homer Tales.
4. Tin as a source of Troy War.
Every day brings additional discoveries which changes our views over ancient north Europe. Maybe the Tollense Battle was in fact a base for the Homer myths? It is worth noting that until our times only a small part of original Homer Tales survived. What if Tollense was biggest battle between Danaans (invaders) and Trojans (local groups)?
There are more clues showing that only in central and north Europe there were cultures able to create and supply huge armies. Cultures of South were slowly collapsing (it is always a process), which ended with dark ages. What about north? The answer can be found in most important material of those times: bronze. Bronze, which was crucial for weapons making. Bronze is made by a mix of copper and tin. As there are plenty of copper deposists in whole Europe, the problem starts with tin. In Tollense excavations the most significant findings were inglots of pure tin. The tin was more important than gold, was extremly precious as it was a source of power. Even Homer writes that tin was very important for both of sides. It was a strategic resource. Julius Cezar have invaded Britain only to control tin deposist in Cornwall.
So where the tin was mined? Not in south Europe, there only one minor deposit in Italy. Most of deposits can be found on far north. First mining of tin in north Europe started in 2500 BC in Rudawy Region, modern Germany. About 100km east, in Poland archeologists have found remains of biggest mettalurgical center from 1600 BC (Bruszczewo).
So knowing that the Tollense battle area was famous for their tin deposists and mettalurgical processing center, why not connect it with Troyan war? We have tin, climate fitting Illiad and we have biggest battle of that times in one area.
5. Don't forget about amber.
Homer states that the grand chamber of Menelaos Palace was made out of amber. In fact amber was second most important resource of that times, still more worth than gold. And the Baltic's amber was the most precious. With it's unique level of succinic acid was desirabled in whole ancient world. It was found in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and whole greek world. In greek myths Argonauts were sailing thru Erydan river to find Golden Fleece. On the end of their journey they found island of Electrum. Erydan was the name of river which the Baltic was before it changed into sea. Elektrum is another name for amber in Greek.
The golden fleece legend tells also about siblings Helle and Fryksos, that have run away from their step-mother Ino on golden ram. Helle, while running away slipped of the ram and drowned. The sea was named after her (Helles Ponte). In modern times on the shore of Baltic we have towns with surprisingly names like Hel, Helsinki, Helblag (currently Elblag). Now that Helles Pont is considered to be located in Dardanelle, near Turkey. However Homer Talles states that Helles Ponte was wide, huge. Look on the map. Maybe Baltic is a Helles Ponte?
The golden fleece legend tells also about siblings Helle and Fryksos, that have run away from their step-mother Ino on golden ram. Helle, while running away slipped of the ram and drowned. The sea was named after her (Helles Ponte). In modern times on the shore of Baltic we have towns with surprisingly names like Hel, Helsinki, Helblag (currently Elblag). Now that Helles Pont is considered to be located in Dardanelle, near Turkey. However Homer Talles states that Helles Ponte was wide, huge. Look on the map. Maybe Baltic is a Helles Ponte?
We know that the Baltic Sea was not on outskirts of ancient world. The region was a greatest supplier and major player in ancient economy. So the reasons why the biggest ancient battle took place there seems more clear.
6. Sky map
One of the parts of Illiad depicts the process of crafting the shield of Achilles.by god Hephaestus Read here
Yes, quiet simillar to the Nebra Sky Disk. Even the materials of which the disk is made fits. Even if the Nebra Sky disk is older than Trojan war, the culture that created it, was really fluent in astrologhy and methallurgy. So yet another connection between Troy and Tollense.
7. Troyans
We don't know who were they. The only other source of Troyan war was a letter from Hettite emperor adressed to brother of Ahhiyawa king. In Illiad, Troy is also named as Ilion/Willion. So the Ilion was turkish Husarlik or maybe somwhere else?
Troyan Land is also the name of pagan cultures that worshiped three-head god called Trojan. The god Trojan was a major part of slavic believes from Balkans, Pomerania up to Russia. Main region of Trojan worshipping was area of modern Szczecin, 30km from Baltic, just at the end of Odra River. So really close to Tollense. Trojan symbol was a block horse, one of Troyan pagan people tradition was building a wooden, black horse to sacrifice it. Looks familiar. So maybe, people of Troyan were all connected by a belief in might god Trojan, and their high interactions built a wealthy and important region that controlled tin deposits and amber route. However they were not able to unify and built a civilization, but remained as small groups joining together in case of external danger.
So in fact, the Tollense battle could have been a war to control treasures of amber and tin. There is no other reason that 3300 years ago, two giant armies fought on the shore of river 2500km from ancient civilizations. Oddysey and Illiad might be a story of war of resources between local warlords and invaders from other parts of europe. Maybee result of the battle changed ancient Europe, destroyed the north-south trade and started processes that ended first civilizations of south europe. As we have researched only up to 10% of battlefield more surprising results will come. Also the archology in the region is still behind, there might be new surprisies.
And the battle istelf.
Thousands of bone fragments belonging to a very large number of persons have been discovered along with further corroborating evidence of battle; current estimates indicate that perhaps 4,000 warriors fought in a battle on the site in the 13th century BC. Since the population density then was about 5 people per square kilometer, this would have been the most significant battle in Bronze Age. Most of these remains were those of young men between the ages of 20 and 40. At one spot, 1,478 bones were found within just 12 sq. m. - maybe the remnant of a heap of corpses or of a final pocket of resistance. As no clear traces of healing have been found on any of the wounds, the whole encounter seems to have taken place in not much more than a day. 26% of skeletons "show signs of healed traumas from earlier fights, including three skulls with healed fractures", so many trained and experienced warriors seem to have taken part. Spears, clubs, swords, knives, sickles and arrows were used. Several of the more than 40 found skulls show signs of battle wounds. A bronze arrowhead was found in one of them. Contrasting such arrowheads with ones made from flint and with wooden clubs, it has been surmised that two differently-equipped groups confronted each other. At least some of the combatants rode into battle as evidenced by horse bones (of at least five specimens) found on site. The arrowhead's position in the initially found humerus bone shows that an archer on foot wounded a horseman. The fact that almost no material finds were made between the bones except for single arrowheads, suggests that the corpses were robbed after the fight. The victors probably threw the dead into the river, which carried them downstream, given the fact that most remains are no longer in anatomical connection. They were then deposited in a calmer part of the river, covered by turf and thereby partially conserved. It has been speculated that a better-armed group from the South or West wanted to cross the river on their way north- or eastwards on a strategic, long-established causeway. This road might well have been used for long-distance trade in tin and luxury goods (like e.g. the pearls from the Persian Gulf, found near Halle, or the Mediterranean glass pearls found close to nearby Neustrelitz; both finds from 1200 BC). The battle seems to coincide with a period of heightened militancy 3250 years ago, as metal became increascingly scarce north of the Alps and populations seem to have moved.
And the battle istelf.
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