Warsaw: SiltaNews – News Desk
Amateur metal detectorists made a remarkable discovery in the forests of northern Poland, where they unearthed numerous pieces of jewellery and other artifacts from the early Iron Age (8th century BC). In all, 11 artifacts were uncovered in the Gdańsk Forest District, shedding new light on the region’s ancient history, the Pomeranian Province Conservator of Monuments (PWKZ) announced.
The collection includes six necklaces (one possibly a semi-finished product), four greaves (armor designed to protect shins), and one bracelet, as detailed in a press release by the PWKZ. PWKZ spokesman Marcin Tymiński stated on Facebook that the items discovered on Monday were “real treasure.”
Stanisław Zachariasz, who is a board member of the Latebra Foundation, which searches for historical relics, told state-owned news agency PAP that his colleague Marcin Wiśniewski’s metal detector first alerted them to a potential discovery. “He thought it would be another unexploded ordnance. He started digging, and when the Bronze Age color appeared, he called me over, and we started working on the find together,” he said.
“It’s a tremendous experience for us and a great joy that, thanks to our discovery, we can contribute to a better understanding of the history of our region. We are not professional archaeologists, but merely history enthusiasts who enjoy exploring it, including using metal detectors,” Zachariasz added.
Piotr Fudziński, head of the Early Iron Age department at the Archaeological Museum in Gdańsk, emphasized the significance of the discovery, stating, “The find fits perfectly into the intensive prehistoric settlement of ancient times.” PWKZ said that the artifacts will likely be sent to Poland’s National Archaeological Museum in Warsaw, where they will undergo professional conservation.