# Aenigma 2.0 – Who will decipher the mysterious code from the Bronze Age?
# October 14, 2024 to March 23, 2025

# The focus of the exhibition is on the so-called bread loaf idols – mysterious, decorated clay objects first discovered in northern Hungary around 1860, whose function remains a mystery to archaeologists. Never before have so many bread loaf idols been gathered in one exhibition.

# Visitors can expect a stimulating tour through Europe, leading from Lake Garda in northern Italy through central and southern Germany, down the Danube to Romania and Bulgaria, and from there westward to the Adriatic coast and even to central Italy and Corsica. Numerous questions arise: Were the bread loaf idols early means of communication, trading tokens, game pieces, religious symbols, or did they serve a calendar function? Were they a kind of tally stick or messenger's staff—or did they serve an entirely different purpose?

The distribution area of ​​the bread loaf idols extends in a southeast-northwest direction over almost 1,500 km from northwest Bulgaria to the Middle Rhine region, and in a southwest-northeast direction over almost 1,400 km from the Mediterranean island of Corsica and from central Italy to Kuyavia in Poland. As far as the circumstances of the finds are known, they almost exclusively come from settlements primarily from the late Early Bronze Age (ca. 1750–1500 BC).

The exhibition is based on a German-Italian research initiative on the topic of "Bread Loaves – Enigmatic Tavolette/Enigmatic Oggetti" (Enigmatic Bread Loaves – Enigmatic Tavolettes/Enigmatic Oggetti) from 2008 to 2011. "Aenigma 2.0" expands this knowledge with current research results and newly discovered finds from various parts of Europe. This unique exhibition is made possible thanks to the collaboration of more than 50 lenders from 11 countries – museums, institutions, and private collections – primarily from Italy, the Guest of Honor Country of the 2024 Frankfurt Book Fair, as well as from other European countries such as Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Austria, Bulgaria, and Romania. Many of the objects have never been exhibited before, including exhibits from Italy, Corsica, and Croatia, as well as recently discovered objects from Germany, such as finds from the Royal Palace of Helfta in Saxony-Anhalt and from Salzkotten in East Westphalia.

David 1 4 Aenigma2 IMG 0262 PhotoWolfgangDavid2024 10 14 cutA diverse accompanying program complements the exhibition and is aimed at visitors of all ages. It includes target group-specific tours, creative workshops, and an interactive station with replica bread loaf idols and Bronze Age replicas that you can touch, a bread loaf idol memory game, and stamp sets for children. A puzzle booklet allows families to explore the exhibition in a playful way.Poster 594x841 Aenigma lay02

Of particular note are the digital 3D models that allow the bread loaf idols to be viewed virtually from all perspectives. They were created in 2011 as part of a pilot project in cooperation with ARCTron 3D GmbH, Altenthann, using a fringe projection system, a fringe light scanner, and digital photogrammetry based on the so-called "structure-from-motion" method.

David 3 BLI PhotoWDavidAn interactive platform invites the public to share their own ideas about the function of the bread loaf idols and thus actively participate in unraveling this archaeological mystery. A public workshop was held on March 6, 2025 , to promote exchange between scientists and interested visitors. This contemporary combination of analog and digital knowledge transfer offers a sustainable platform for citizen science .

A richly illustrated accompanying publication , sponsored by the Dr. Marschner Foundation, is in preparation.

The special exhibition is under the patronage of Consul General Massimo Darchini (Consolato Generale d'Italia, Francoforte sul Meno). It is substantially supported by the Frankfurt RheinMain Cultural Fund, the Dr. Marschner Foundation, and the Department of Culture and Science of the City of Frankfurt am Main.

Archaeology enthusiasts of all ages are cordially invited to embark on a search for the solution to one of archaeology's most fascinating mysteries.