Some discoveries remind us of how much history still lies hidden, waiting to be uncovered.
One such moment happened in 2022 when a museum employee diving in Poland’s Supraśl River stumbled upon a relic lost for centuries — a Viking-era sword.
Two years later, after painstaking restoration, the artifact has returned to the spotlight at the Military Museum in Białystok, according to naukawpolsce.
This early medieval sword, dating to the 9th or 10th century, is one of only a handful of its kind in Poland. Its significance is matched only by its remarkable preservation.
Found encased in mineral deposits, the sword’s condition speaks volumes about its long journey through time.
Director of the museum, Robert Sadowski, noted its rarity and historical value, emphasizing how such finds are transformative for historians and the public alike.
Compared to Winning the Lottery
The sword underwent a meticulous conservation process at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. Specialists removed mineralized coatings without compromising its original structure.
The process took months, conducted in a wet environment to prevent damage from exposure to air.
According to Dr. Ryszard Kazimierczak, the weapon’s design and preservation suggest ties to Viking or Baltic cultures. He described it as a "unique example" of early medieval craftsmanship.
Experts believe the sword was either lost during a river crossing or left behind after a skirmish.
The area where it was discovered had been reshaped by currents, which revealed the relic buried in the riverbed. Szczepan Skibicki, the diver who found it, compared the moment to “winning the lottery.”
He acted quickly to preserve the artifact, keeping it submerged until proper conservation could begin.
This isn’t the only medieval sword in the museum’s collection. Another, dating to the 11th century, was found in the same river decades ago.
Together, these artifacts offer an extraordinary glimpse into the region's history and its connections to the Viking world.
