Archeologists Uncover Jewels from Queen Nefertiti’s Time
The finds include gold jewelry and gemstones that tell the story of a Bronze Age city in Cyprus.

The New Swedish Cyprus Expedition, also known as The Söderberg Expedition after private research financing group the Swedish Torsten Söderberg Foundation, has been making excavation rounds in Cyprus since 2010.
In 2018, the group discovered two tombs in the Bronze Age city of Hala Sultan Tekke in Cyprus.
The underground chambers included 155 human skeletons and 500 other objects, including gold jewelry, gemstones, and ceramics from around 1350 BCE.
“Managing the finds required very delicate work over four years, since the bones were extremely fragile after more than 3,000 years in the salty soil,” the University of Gothenburg said last week.
The tombs held skeletons and ritual funeral objects lined up in layers, which indicates several generations used it, said the university.
“The finds indicate that these are family tombs for the ruling elite in the city,” said Peter Fischer, a professor of archeology at the university and the leader of the excavations.
“For example, we found the skeleton of a 5-year-old with a gold necklace, gold earrings and a gold tiara. This was probably a child of a powerful and wealthy family,” he said.

The archeologists found carnelian from India, lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, and amber from around the Baltic Sea, which denotes the city’s central role in trade at that time.
The gold jewelry, which includes scarab amulets with hieroglyphs, signifies trade with Egypt as well.
The team was able to date the jewelry by comparing it to similar finds from Egypt.
“The comparisons show that most of the objects are from the time of Nefertiti and her husband Echnaton around 1350 BCE. Like a gold pendant we found: a lotus flower with inlaid gemstones. Nefertiti wore similar jewelry,” said Fischer.

Archeologists also found objects made of gold, silver, bronze, ivory, and gemstones. Among them was a cylinder-shaped seal made from hematite, with a cuneiform inscription from Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq).

The archeologists were able to decipher the message, uncovering the name “Amurru,” a god worshiped in Mesopotamia and the names of two historical kings who were a father-and-son team in the 18th century BCE.

“The way that the ceramics changed in appearance and material over time allows us to date them and study the connections these people had with the surrounding world. What fascinates me most is the wide-ranging network of contacts they had 3,400 years ago,” said Fischer.
The next project for the team is DNA analysis of the skeletons, to determine if, and how, the people are related or if, considering the vast trade networks, they are immigrants from another land.
The site of the city of Hala Sultan Tekke is currently on UNESCO’s list of places to be designated as a World Heritage Site.
The Latest

Model Georgina Rodríguez received a rock of an engagement ring, with her diamond estimated to be 35 carats, experts say.

The board elected 9 new directors at its recent ICA Congress in Brazil.

Three winners will receive a custom ring from Honest Hands Ring Co. inlaid with a piece of history from Denver-based distillery Stranahan’s.

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

JD Sports and Wawa were among the fastest-growing retail companies in the U.S. last year.


The new inventory, all untreated, features vibrant hues and unique bicolor combinations.

Acquired by a tech investor, the historic brand will continue to focus on jewelry, accessories, and timepieces.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order extending the pause on higher tariffs to November as negotiations with China continue.

The “Thunderbird Slab” collection features a thunderbird motif as a symbol of power, protection, and boundless possibility.

Columnists Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share tips on how to elevate your professional image.

Peter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.

The retailer, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is becoming part of the Berkshire Hathaway Jewelry Group with Helzberg.

The Continental Buying Group’s 2025 Tampa Experience Show is slated for Sept. 8-10.

Associate Editor Lauren McLemore recently attended a fabrics trade show where a trend forecaster shared her predictions for summer 2027.

The company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.

The organization has raised more than $1.3 million for charity since its inception.

The brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.

The first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.

The catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.

The company added a retailer dashboard to its site and three new birds to its charm collection, the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird.

An additional 25 percent tariff has been added to the previously announced 25 percent.

Its Springfield, Massachusetts, store is set to close as owner Andrew Smith heads into retirement.

Designer Hiba Husayni looked to the whale’s melon shaped-head, blowhole, and fluke for her new chunky gold offerings.

She will present the 23rd edition of the trend forecasting book at Vicenzaoro on Sept. 7.

Omar Roy, 72, was arrested in connection with the murder of jeweler Dionisio Carlos Valladares.

The New Orleans-based brand’s “Beyond Katrina” jewels honor the communities affected by the storm.