Magnificent Viking Era Sword Found By Divers In The Supraśl River, Poland

Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com -  The Army Museum in Bialystok, Poland, has unveiled a significant historical artifact: a Viking-era sword dating back to the 9th or 10th century. This remarkable find was made by museum employee Szczepan Skibicki during a dive in the Suprasl River within the Podlachia region during the summer of 2022. Alongside fragments of pottery, nails, and other small metal objects, this sword is notable for its excellent preservation and cultural significance.

An early Middle Ages sword, now preserved and showcased at the Bialystok Army Museum in Bialystok, offers a fascinating glimpse into the past. Discovered by a museum employee in 2022 within the Podlaskie Voivodeship region, this historical artifact was found alongside fragments of pottery, nails, and other small metal elements. These accompanying items provide valuable context for understanding the era's material culture and craftsmanship. Credit: Artur Reszko / PAP

Described as an extraordinary stroke of luck akin to winning the lottery, Skibicki discovered the sword in an area where river erosion had exposed it from a sand deposit. Following its recovery, measures were taken to preserve its condition by storing it in a humid environment before transferring it to authorities for thorough evaluation and restoration.

"It is a very unusual sword, from what I know, there are only three or four such swords in the country," Robert Sadowski, director of the Military Museum in Bialystok, told journalists.

The restored sword has mineralized fragments. "The middle part shows how time has acted. When these swords were fought, the middle part was the one that most often took the blows and, by necessity, some micro-cracks, scratches, and splinters appeared, which caused the material to react in this way and not in any other way for a thousand years," said Sadowski in a press release.

Before the astonishing sword could be formally transferred to the institution, the Provincial Conservator of Monuments conducted a legal procedure. Only after it became museum property did specialists from the Institute of Archaeology at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun begin its conservation. The work lasted almost five months.

Dr. Ryszard Kazimierczak from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun stated that everything indicates this weapon was made in the late 9th or early 10th century, likely related to the Viking culture or the Baltic people. "The sword is unique due to its form, shape, and the degree of preservation of the organic substance on the hilt," he said.

Following its restoration, the sword is now on display in the museum. Credit: Artur Reszko / PAP

With only three or four swords of this type known to exist nationwide, these artifacts are exceptionally rare and hold immense historical value. The captivating history of this particular sword adds an intriguing dimension, as historians believe it may have been lost during a crossing of the Suprasl River or amidst an armed conflict. There's even a possibility that its owner perished at the site, leaving behind this silent witness to an era defined by conquests and conflicts.

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This extraordinary sword is now proudly featured in the permanent collection at the Army Museum in Bialystok. It is displayed alongside another remarkable find—a sword unearthed during drainage work on the same river in the 1970s—further enriching our understanding of historical events in that region. Visiting this exhibit offers a unique opportunity to connect with our past and appreciate these rare treasures firsthand.

Written by Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com Staff Writer