In this video, archaeologists solve the mystery of an 1,800-year-old Roman fresco in London.
London researchers have reconstructed a large collection of Roman wall plaster, uncovering 1,800-year-old frescoes that once adorned a high-status building. (Source: MOLA)
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Archaeologists recently recovered early medieval weapons from a lake in Poland – relics believed to be linked to the country's first rulers.
The Museum of the First Piasts in Lednica announced the discovery in a Facebook post on November 12. The underwater excavations were conducted in Lake Lednica, in west-central Poland, approximately 240 kilometers west of Warsaw.
The lake surrounds the island of Ostrov Lednický, which served as a huge royal citadel at the end of the 10th century.
Over the years, archaeologists have discovered about 280 artifacts in the lake, including 145 axes, 64 spearheads, eight swords and, most recently, four spears.
Researchers from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, in collaboration with the First Piast Museum in Lednice, discovered the spears.
The weapons date back to the era of Mieszko I and Bolesław the Brave, key figures in the rise of medieval Poland. (De Agostini via Getty Images; M. Trzciński, Muzeum Pierwszych Piastów na Lednicy via Facebook)
This weapon dates back to the times of Mieszko I and Bolesław the Brave, two legendary figures in the formation of medieval Poland.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, museum director Andrzej Kowalczyk said that Lake Lednica has “fascinated scientists for decades” and that the weapons discovered there only add to the site's enduring mystery.
“Decorated socketed spearheads are exceptional examples of early medieval weaponry from Northern and Eastern Europe,” he said.
“Three similar specimens were found in the 1990s in the waters of Lake Lednica. However, until now, no such richly decorated finds—with a base made entirely of non-ferrous metal alloys—have been discovered.”
According to Kovalchik, elaborate decorations on the weapons, as well as the precious metals they were made from upon them could have used them could by “high-canned warriors” said.
Similar spears were found in the 1990s, but none were as richly decorated as those discovered today, experts said. (M. Popek, Museum of the First Spears on Lednice, Facebook)
“These artefacts add new elements to the largest collection of early medieval weapons found at a single archaeological site in Europe,” he added.
The most interesting find, according to Kowalczyk, was the “princely spear,” which was exceptionally well preserved.
“The steel blade, or leaf, is set in an elaborately decorated socket, which still contains a fragment of the shaft,” he said.
“Specialized studies have shown that much of its surface is covered with gold, silver, and bronze, as well as other metallic alloys. … There are also interwoven patterns, the sharp ends of which resemble claws or beaks, complemented by rows of tiny dots that form the background of the pattern.”
Excavators recovered hundreds of weapons from the lake, including 145 axes and more than 60 spearheads. (M. Trzinsky, Museum of the First Weapons on the Lake, Facebook)
As for the reasons why the weapons ended up in the lake, experts identify two main hypotheses.
According to the first theory, archaeologists believe the weapons fell into the lake during the battle for the Lednice fortress, probably in the 1030s, when the Czech prince Bretislav invaded Poland.
On the other hand, the museum said, the weapons may have been ritually placed in water as offerings, even during the Christian era.
“Similar customs are known from earlier periods and from many places across Europe,” Kowalczyk said.
“Water was perceived as a gateway to the world of the dead, and throwing valuable objects into it had a profound symbolic meaning,” said the museum director. (M. Trzinsky, Museum of the First Pusty in Lednice, Facebook)
“Water was seen as a gateway to the world of the dead, and throwing valuable objects into it had a deep symbolic meaning.”
Kowalczyk emphasized the special significance of Ostrów Lednicki in Polish history, including the fact that it was here that Mieszko I was probably baptized.
“It should be emphasized that it was on Ostrów Lednicki Island that the oldest Christian liturgical objects ever found in Poland were discovered, including a staurothek (reliquary with the True Cross), a liturgical comb made of ivory, a three-pronged iron censer with holes for hanging, and bone plates from a reliquary,” he said.
Sourse: www.foxnews.com