Metal detectorist stumbles on rusty item — and finds rare 2,400-year-old artifact
A metal detectorist swept their device across the ground of eastern Poland. The device beeped at one spot, then another and then a third. Treasure after treasure reemerged.
The metal detectorist, who chose to remain anonymous, uncovered three artifacts while searching an area near Śniatycze, the Lublin Provincial Conservator of Monuments said in a June 21 Facebook post.
The most unique artifact was a rare 2,400-year-old brooch or pin. The roughly 3-inch-long brooch has two distinct sections: a mushroom-shaped end and a parachute-shaped end.
A photo shows the rusty brown artifact. The ancient brooch was used as decoration, officials said. It once had a needle used to attach it to things, but this piece has been lost.
Experts linked the rare brooch to the Lusatian culture, a European Bronze Age culture known only from archaeology. It is the fifth artifact of its kind found in Poland, officials said.
The metal detectorist also uncovered two medieval weapons. Experts identified one as a 700-year-old throwing weapon and the other as a 500-year-old battle ax.
Photos show the grenade-shaped throwing weapon. The iron artifact would have been hooked on a rope or strap and showed signs of use, officials said.
A photo shows the medieval ax-head. It almost appears to have a semicircular bite taken out of it, but archaeologists described the weapon as being well-preserved.
The artifacts will be given to the Zamość Museum. Officials also plan to inspect the area where the items were found.
Śniatycze is a village in Lublin Voivodeship, a roughly 180-mile drive southeast of Warsaw and near the border with Ukraine.
Google Translate was used to translate the Facebook post from the Lublin Provincial Conservator of Monuments.
This story was originally published June 25, 2024 at 2:54 PM with the headline "Metal detectorist stumbles on rusty item — and finds rare 2,400-year-old artifact."
