Gaby
While swimming in Poland’s Supraśl River, museum employee Szczepan Skibiński discovered a sword dating to the 9th or 10th century. This rare artifact is one of the few swords of its kind ever found in the country.
Skibiński found the sword in a bend of the river where erosion had exposed sandy deposits, Arkeonews reported. “At a depth of about 120 centimeters, I noticed an interesting object that turned out to be a sword! That was the first and last time I screamed with joy underwater!” the museum worker recounted. He compared the find to winning the lottery, reflecting on the extraordinary luck of uncovering such a treasure.
Experts say the sword may be linked to Baltic or Viking cultures. The unique hilt design shows a high level of craftsmanship by the maker of this bladed weapon.
Dr. Ryszard Kaźmierczak from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, who examined the relic, emphasized its rarity and cultural and historical significance. He said the sword is unusual in shape and in how well organic material has been preserved on the hilt. “This is very rare for artifacts of this age,” the expert stated.
“There is a high probability that a battle occurred by the river, and the sword ended up in the water along with its owner,” Kaźmierczak added.
Museum staff say the cracks, scratches, and chips the sword sustained in battle tell the story of that conflict. The middle part of the blade is especially telling, since it bore the brunt of the strikes.
After the Museum of the Army took ownership of the sword, the museum sent it for conservation with help from specialists at the Institute of Archaeology at Nicolaus Copernicus University.
