Archaeologists have unearthed a historic dugout canoe at the mouth of the Narew River, near the Modlin Fortress in Poland.

This significant discovery was made by members of the Triglav ᴀssociation, led by Sławomir Kaliński, who initially spotted the canoe’s stern protruding above the waterline. Suspecting it might be more than just an ordinary log, the group contacted Robert Wyrostkiewicz, an archaeologist from Pogotowie Archeologiczne, for further investigation.

The dugout canoe, or monoxylon, measures approximately 7.8 meters in length and 80 centimeters in width, and is submerged at an average depth of 80 centimeters. These boats are among the oldest forms of watercraft, traditionally carved from a single tree trunk. While the exact age of the canoe remains uncertain, Wyrostkiewicz estimates it to be around 200 to 300 years old, potentially dating back to the royal era.


“The shipbuilder had quite a lot of skills. At the end of the side, you can see a rectangular hollow made by a human hand, perhaps for a steering element,” said Wyrostkiewicz in an interview with Science in Poland. Despite some damage, notably the missing bow, the canoe’s craftsmanship is evident.

Dugout canoes have a long history, with the earliest examples dating back to the Neolithic period, around 8,000 years ago. They were also used during the Roman period and later by the Slavic fleet. Wyrostkiewicz said that dendrochronological research would be needed to precisely date the artifact and determine its exact historical context.

Upon discovery, the canoe was carefully inspected by a team from the Water Volunteer Search and Rescue Service, alongside archaeologists from Pogotowie Archeologiczne. Recognizing the artifact’s fragility, the team decided to secure the canoe in the river.

“The dugout canoe was hidden by the Water Volunteer Rescue Service several hundred meters from the discovery site – it was sunk and covered with stones,” explained Wyrostkiewicz. This method helps maintain the canoe in an oxygen-free environment, crucial for its preservation until further research can be conducted.

“In the case of wooden objects, water positively influences their state of preservation. If the dugout canoe were retrieved and left in the open air, the wood would dry out, leading to quicker decay and disintegration,” Marcin Dawidowicz, the Mazovian Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments, told the Polish Press Agency (PAP).

This dugout canoe highlights the advanced woodworking skills of its creators and serves as a link to Poland’s maritime heritage, spanning centuries of history.

Source: naukawpolsce.pl