Researchers have come across an extraordinary find close to Wielka Tymawa, a village in Poland’s Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. Members of the Biskupiec Detectorists ᴀssociation “Gryf” stumbled upon a cache of medieval weapons.
A medieval knight with sword and helm. Credit: One lucky guy, Flickr/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
The discovery includes a two-handed sword and two axe heads from the 14th-15th centuries. The group made this find during a legally sanctioned search. They have now handed over the artifacts to the Museum in Ostróda for conservation and future exhibition.
Experts from museums and archaeology have commended the items’ exceptional condition. The sword, measuring nearly one meter in length, still retains its hilt, pommel, and guard intact. This makes it a particularly rare discovery. The weapon’s design resembles the Hand-and-a-Half Swords that saw widespread use in Western Europe during the Late Middle Ages. Its pointed blade suggests that its main purpose was to thrust and pierce armor.
Łukasz Szczepański, who works as an archaeologist at the Museum in Ostróda, believes the discovery adds significant value to the museum’s collection.
The weapons were discovered at a location close to the Osa River, which historically had a wild and meandering course. Experts in archaeology think these objects might have been underwater for centuries, which explains why they’re in such good condition. One axe even retained a fragment of its wood shaft, something you don’t often see in these kinds of finds.
This isn’t the first time detectorists from “Gryf” have helped make big historical finds in the area. A few years back, the group played a key role in finding a trove of old Carolingian silver coins near Biskupiec in Nowe Miasto County. Their work led to the discovery of over 130 silver deniers and pieces of coins from the 9th century.
The unearthing of the medieval sword and axes shines a light on Warmia and Masuria’s deep-rooted history. The Ostróda Museum has begun X-raying and conserving the artifacts, aiming to feature them in a permanent display later this year.
Links: Ostróda Museum
