Vandal warrior grave weapons given to museum in Poland

The Father Stanisław Staszic Museum in Hrubieszów, Poland, has received an complete set of Vandal weapons, likely from a cremation burial, that is one of the richest Vandal warrior burials ever found in the region. The assemblage includes a sword, spearpoints, shield fittings, spurs and a bronze fibula.

Buried approximately 2,000 years ago, the group consists of an iron sword deliberately broken into three parts, plus pieces of its scabbard, two spear points, one intact made of iron and the other broken, a shield boss with a sharp protrusion, a shield handle, a helmet with a collar, a dagger, two spurs, a belt buckle, a bronze fibula for closing a cloak. All of these elements, especially the presence of the rare scabbard and spurs, indicate that the deceased was a high-ranking cavalry warrior.

The origin of the find is murky. The collection was delivered anonymously, and the only thing museum officials know is that the artifacts emerged on farmland in a few years ago in the municipality of Werbkowice. They were not recovered at that time, and since then the contents were exposed to damage.

The objects are in poor condition, heavily corroded, and in need of urgent intervention to prevent further deterioration. Specialists have been engaged to conserve the pieces. The process is expected to take months.

The museum plans to verify the location with an excavation next year. For now, researchers believe the objects came from a single grave. There may be others at the site, which would shed light on the assemblage that has been removed from its context.

* This article was originally published here