Island Tomb reveals 1,000-year-old treasure chest of ‘Elite’ jewelry – The First News
The two amber rings, a bronze bowl, an iron knife in a leather holder and bronze buckles were found in the grave of a man who belonged to the Pomeranian elite and lived between the 11th and 12th centuries.
Jerzy Sikora
An archaeological excavation of a tomb on a remote island in northern Poland has uncovered a 1,000-year-old trove of objects thought to have belonged to a wealthy member of Pomeranian elite.
The two amber rings, a bronze bowl, an iron knife in a leather holder and bronze buckles were found in the grave of a man near the village of Ostrowite who lived between the 11th and 12th centuries.
Excavation director Dr. Jerzy Sikora from the University of Łódź told Science in Poland: “What is remarkable is the fact that there are two almost identical rings, arranged symmetrically about the body axis.
Archaeologists decided to dig at the site of the tomb after the fragments of bronze bowls were discovered at the same site by medal search teams in previous years.
The tomb, identified as an elite tomb, differs from those discovered nearby by its size and the expensive items with which it was furnished.
At the foot of the man’s body, archaeologists found a bronze bowl with wooden fragments inside, most likely from the coffin lid, which collapsed slightly over time.
Excavation director Dr. Jerzy Sikora from the University of Łódź told Science in Poland: “The deceased was most likely a representative of one of the local Pomeranian elites.
“The fact that there are two almost identical rings that are arranged symmetrically to the body axis is remarkable.
The buried man also had a knife in a bronze-framed leather pouch and two coins.
“And besides, they’re made of amber. The situation is unique. I don’t know of any similar burials.”
The dead was also placed in a wooden burial chamber resembling a large chest or small house. Associated with the early Middle Ages, archaeologists refer to these types of burials as chamber burials.
The discovery was made on an island near the village of Ostrowite in northern Poland.
At the foot of the man’s body, archaeologists found a bronze bowl with wooden fragments inside, most likely from the coffin lid, which collapsed slightly over time. He also had a knife in a bronze-framed leather pouch and two coins.
Fragments of material found on the surface of the shell undergo special analysis to determine their origin.
Archaeologists decided to dig at the site of the tomb after the fragments of bronze bowls were discovered at the same site by medal search teams in previous years.
According to Dr. Sikora not say clearly due to lack of written sources from that time.
He said: “Ostrowite, where the latest discovery was made, was an important but local center of power functioning from the 11th to the 14th centuries.
“It was a fairly developed residential complex, with a settlement on a nearby island connected to the shore by a wooden bridge at least until about 1160, but almost certainly operating before that. ”