Magnificent Chamber Graves Of Four Scandinavian Warriors Discovered In Poland – The Piast Dynasty In New Light

Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com – Chamber graves filled with precious artifacts belonging to four Scandinavian warriors have been discovered in Poland.

The finding is of great historical importance because it offers evidence people of foreign origin were members of the Piast state elites. It’s also a rare discovery since not many chamber-type graves from the Middle Ages have been encountered in Poland.

Artistic reconstruction of one of the graves in the central part of the cemetery. Credit: K. Patalon

Established in Gniezno at some time during the ninth century, the Piast dynasty was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland.

Archaeologists unearthed the tomb in the small village of Ciepłe near Gniew in Eastern Pomerania. During previous excavations, 60 graves were found at the site, and it’s possible many more can still be found.

Two of the warrior graves found within the necropolis in Ciepłe. Credit: Z. Ratajczyk

“In the central part of the cemetery, there were four very richly equipped chamber graves. Men, probably warriors, were buried in them, as evidenced by the weapons and equestrian equipment deposited with the bodies,” Dr. Sławomir Wadyl from the Archaeological Museum in Gdańsk said.

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One of the project’s goal was to determine who was buried within the necropolis in Ciepłe. More studies must be carried out, but the preliminary results of the studies' conduct so far indicate that the discovered graves are some of the oldest unearthed at the site.

“Samples of some of the remains were taken and sent for strontium isotope studies and genetic analyses which enabled the scientists to determine the origin, migration directions, kinship and appearance of the deceased,” Science in Poland reports.

“It turned out that all the dead buried in the central part of the cemetery came not from the then Piast State, but from Scandinavia, most likely Denmark,” said Dr. Wadyl.

Left: Equipment from one of the warrior graves. Credit: La Baume - Right: Swords used by the Scandinavian warriors. Credit: J. Szmit

Inside the chamber graves archaeologists discovered magnificent swords, spears, full sets of equestrian and horse equipment. Everything indicates the artifacts were produced in Western European or Scandinavian workshops.

Scientists also unearthed “coins, metal and wooden utensils, scales with weights, a comb, knives and metal decorations.”

Spur from the grave of a warrior. Credit: K. Odya

Dr. Wadyl explained that this particular type of chamber graves is known from Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, and they served as burials for the elite in Poland.

The tombs of great importance and surrounded by a fence or palisade. The fact that they were not destroyed, supports the theory that “the memory of the graves existed for quite a long time among the local population.”

Reconstruction of the stirrup from the grave. Credit: K. Patalon

Some years ago, archaeologists speculated and suggested some of the chamber tombs made during the first Piast monarchy may belong to Scandinavians, but there was no evidence of this, until now.

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Further historical studies may provide a better understanding of how the Scandinavians influenced the emerging state of the first Piasts, a very interesting historical event in Polish history.

Written by Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com Staff Writer