A hunter discovers a treasure trove of iron weapons from the Roman period

A set of iron weapons from the Roman period was found in a forest near Hrubieszów, Poland, close to the border with Ukraine. At the beginning of January they were accidentally discovered by a forester Mateusz Filipowicz and his friends. They first noticed one heavily rusted object with a crust lying in the mud disturbed by heavy forestry equipment. When Mateusz pulled it out, more appeared beneath it.

At first it was very difficult to discern what he had found because of the heavy corrosion, moreover mixed with sand and mud. Several kilograms of crusted iron were therefore carefully removed and taken out of the forest with the intention of cleaning the objects. They thought they were some artifacts from World War II. However, after the initial cleaning, they recognised much older archaeological finds and immediately reported everything to the Stanisław Staszic Museum in Hlubieszów.

Two hours later, they handed over the finds - bringing them to the museum in a mushroom basket. The director, Bartłomiej Bartecki, identified nine iron spearheads in the objects, ranging in length from 25.5 cm to 34.5 cm, with a leaf blade 5 cm to 6.5 cm wide. There were also 2 iron battle axes; one 23.5 cm long with a blade height of 7 cm, the other 19 cm long with a blade height of 5 cm. One axe blade or body 17 cm long and 6 cm wide with a blade height of 4 cm. Three other objects were very difficult to identify - with certainty only after conservation: 1 iron shield holder (21.5 cm x 6.5 cm) and 2 iron chisels (22 cm and 25.5 cm long with a blade width of 4 cm).

Until now, no similar set has been discovered in the Hrubieszów region. Iron weapons have been found only in Germanic and Vandal graves as individual pieces of grave equipment. The site shows no signs of burial, skeletal remains or pottery, only the aforementioned weapons. Apparently someone had placed the objects wrapped in organic material in the bog on purpose.

Perhaps the weapons were in the possession of the Prior culture or perhaps the Goths placed them in the bog? Traces of both cultures have been found around Hrubieszów in the past. However, unlike other peoples in the area, the ancient Goths did not place iron weapons and tools in graves, although they certainly used them just like everyone else. So where did their weapons go? Deposition in bogs might explain the lack of iron at Gothic sites in Poland.

Experts will only be able to say for sure which culture the objects belonged to once they have been carefully cleaned and preserved. In the spring, archaeologists plan to return to the site and examine it carefully. They may uncover other important information.

Roman Nemec

Sources: wkz.lublin.pl, muzeum-hrubieszow.com.pl, yahoo.com