A sword dating back to the 9th or 10th century was discovered by museum employee Szczepan Skibiński while swimming in the Supraśl River. This rare artifact is one of the few swords of its kind ever found in the country.
Mr. Skibiński stumbled upon the sword in a bend of the river, where erosion had exposed sandy deposits, as reported by Arkeonews. “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 this discovery to winning the lottery, reflecting on the extraordinary luck associated with uncovering such a treasure.
Experts believe the sword may be linked to Baltic or Viking culture. The unique design of the hilt indicates a high level of craftsmanship from the creator of this cold weapon.
Dr. Ryszard Kaźmierczak from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, who conducted the examination of the relic, emphasized its rarity and cultural-historical significance. According to him, the sword is unique in its shape and the degree of preservation of organic material 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,” Mr. Kaźmierczak added.
The cracks, scratches, and chips sustained in battle, according to museum staff, “tell” the story of the conflict. The middle part of the blade is particularly “eloquent,” as it bore the brunt of the strikes.
After the sword became the property of the Museum of the Army, it was sent for conservation with the involvement of specialists from the Institute of Archaeology at Nicolaus Copernicus University.
