Archaeologists in southern Poland have made a remarkable discovery at a 2,000-year-old burial site in Kazimierza Wielka.
Led by a team from Jagiellonian University in Kraków, the excavation uncovered a rare Roman vessel containing cremated remains, a find that is extremely unusual for the region.
The vessel was crafted from copper alloys and adorned with dolphin designs. It is one of only a few ever found in Poland.
"Such vessels are exceptionally rare in Poland," Kamil Sikora, a spokesperson for Jagiellonian University, told Notes From Poland (NFP).
Photo: Institute of Archaeology, Jagiellonian University on Facebook
Only seven similar vessels have been discovered in areas associated with the Przeworsk culture, which inhabited present-day central and southern Poland between the 3rd century BC and the 5th century AD.
This burial site revealed four cremation graves and 23 skeletons, an unusual combination for the Przeworsk culture, which typically cremated their dead. Most of the skeletal remains found belonged to women, who were buried with clothing and ornaments.
Alongside the urn, archaeologists also discovered weapons like a sword, spearheads, and a shield boss, all of which had been ritually damaged in accordance with the funerary practices of the time.
In total, 160 artifacts were uncovered at the site, some dating back to the Neolithic period.
