Detectorist discovers unique depot of broad bronze axes

A 3,500-year-old treasure trove of five rare Bronze Age axes has been discovered in the Starogard forest area of Kociewie, Poland. The collection is the first of its kind in Poland, surpassing previous individual finds in its extent and preservation.

The axes were found with a metal detector by Denis Konkola, an amateur prospector with an official permit from the Monuments Office. He discovered the treasure only about 30 cm underground, where it lay under a natural layer of humus and sod. Apparently, it was originally just deposited hastily. Denis secured the site and informed the authorities, which allowed the conservators from Gdansk to conduct a thorough investigation without losing valuable discovery information. Archaeologists subsequently extended the excavation, but no further Bronze Age finds were discovered. A little further on, they found a fibula - a brooch for fastening clothes - that was about 2,000 years old.

The Tautušiai-type axes from 1700 to 1300 BC are characterised by their size, slender necks, raised edges and broad semicircular blades. It is a rare type originating in the area of present-day Lithuania. The discovery suggests that the axes were imported here and show only minimal signs of wear, leading archaeologists to theorize that they may have been stored as offerings or hastily hidden by a merchant.

Igor Strzok, Pomerania's curator and preservationist, points out that the region's more well-knownThe discovery of axes from this period is truly exceptional. The last comparable find was made 20 years ago in the Lublin area. According to Strzok, the discovery of these five axes is an archaeological miracle.

The treasure has been taken to the Archaeological Museum in Gdańsk, where it will undergo further analysis and conservation. The discovery not only opens new chapters in the history of the region, but also provides valuable insight into the cultural and trade relations of northern Poland during the Bronze Age.

Roman Němec

Sources: thehistoryblog.com, thefirstnews.com, radiogdansk.pl, arkeonews.com

2000 years old fibula

in situ

during extraction

detail from above

detail of the side

treasure of five bronze axes