11th-Century Sword Discovered in Poland
An exceptionally well-preserved medieval sword dating to the 11th century has been recovered from the Warta River near the town of Wronki in western Poland, sparking excitement among archaeologists and historians.
The discovery was announced by the Museum of the Wronki Region, which described the find as “sensational” and praised the responsible actions of the finder, Mirosław Tucholski, who recovered the weapon from the river and promptly reported it to authorities.
Following an initial examination at the museum, archaeologist Ryszard Pietrzak confirmed the sword’s authenticity and dated it to the early medieval period.
Museum officials said the weapon was likely manufactured during the 11th century, a turbulent era in Polish history marked by the reigns of the early Piast rulers and frequent military conflicts across Central Europe.
The circumstances surrounding the sword’s presence in the river remain uncertain.
Researchers say the weapon may once have belonged to a medieval warrior living in the region, although they have not ruled out the possibility that it was intentionally deposited in the river as part of a ritual or ceremonial offering.
“Did it belong to a warrior from the early Middle Ages, or was it thrown into the Warta River as part of an act of worship? We may never know,” museum representatives said in a statement.
The discovery comes amid ongoing concerns about the impact of drought conditions on archaeological heritage across Poland. Falling water levels can expose long-hidden artefacts, creating opportunities for discoveries, but they also threaten the preservation of waterlogged objects that have remained stable for centuries beneath rivers and lakes.
Following the discovery, the find was reported to the Wielkopolska Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments in accordance with Polish heritage regulations, and the sword was secured for conservation work.
Rafał Zimny, the mayor of Wronki, has given financial support for the conservation and scientific study of the weapon. The sword will now be sent to Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń for restoration and further analysis.
When the conservation is complete, we expect the artefact to go on display at the Museum of the Wronki Region.
Museum staff said the sword could become the focus of future scientific research, educational programmes, and tourism initiatives linked to the area’s medieval history.
The find also joins a growing number of medieval weapons discovered in Polish waterways in recent years.
In 2025 an angler recovered a medieval sword from the Vistula River near Warsaw’s Tarchomin district, while another sword was found during dredging operations in 2024. The weapon may have belonged either to a Viking warrior or to a local nobleman from the 10th century.
One of Poland’s biggest collections of submerged medieval weaponry has been recovered from Lake Lednica, where archaeologists have unearthed nearly 300 weapons and military items associated with the reigns of Mieszko I and Bolesław the Brave, including swords, axes, and spears.
Experts believe many such weapons entered rivers and lakes through battles, accidental losses, trade routes, or ritual deposits, practices known from across medieval and pre-Christian Europe.
By Mark Milligan.
