2,700-year-old Bronze Age sword found in Poland

A Bronze Age sword has been found by a metal detectorist in the woods near Gdańsk, Poland. It is in excellent condition, covered in green patina. Archaeologists with the Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments (PUOZ) dated the sword to 900-700 B.C., the late Bronze Age in Europe.

Licensed metal detectorist Marcin Wiśniewski notified the PUOZ on Monday as soon as he realized he’d found an archaeological artifact. He protected it from the rain and obscured it from view to keep it safe from any less scrupulous forest visitors. This allowed regional archaeologists to excavate the find site immediately using professional methodology.

Archaeologists later excavated the area using standard field methods. They carefully recorded the sword’s exact position before lifting it from the ground. No other artifacts were found nearby, though researchers say the weapon’s original placement still holds valuable information. The upright position suggests the sword was deliberately deposited rather than accidentally lost.

The sword measures about 60 centimeters in length and belongs to the tang-hilted type. Its narrow metal tang once held a grip made from wood, bone, or antler, materials that have long since decayed. A green patina covers the bronze blade, helping preserve decorative grooves, engraved arcs, and short crosswise lines. These features match swords produced during the fourth and fifth periods of the Bronze Age, though conservation work will confirm its exact type.

A sword of this length and high quality of decoration would have been prohibitively expensive when it was made. It had the equivalent value as a herd of cattle. Now PUOZ is determining which museum will be the proud recipient of the sword. Once its future home has been determined, it will be conserved to reveal its full decoration.

* This article was originally published here