Polish Archaeologists Uncover Over 550 Bronze Age Artifacts

Archaeologists from Poland conducted excavations, revealing more than 550 artefacts dating back to the Bronze Age, including burials of members of the Helms group—one of the northernmost communities of the Lusatian culture. Among the discovered items, special attention was drawn to jewelry, such as women's beads and bracelets, as reported by Heritage Daily.

"A necklace was found alongside four large metal pins and other jewellery, possibly part of female attire. Earrings shaped like nails, believed to originate from western Ukraine, were also uncovered by archaeologists," noted the researchers.

During the excavations, scientists identified the skeletal remains of at least 33 individuals who inhabited the Helmno region from 1200 to 450 years before our era. Archaeologists also found a flint arrowhead, horse accessories, and horn artefacts. This led scholars to conclude that animals from the deer family "played an ideologically important role" for the Lusatian people.

The excavations took place in the northern village of Papowo-Biskupie at the site of a dried-up lake. It is worth noting that the Lusatian culture traditionally practised burials of the deceased along with metal objects in water bodies, similar to most regions in contemporary Europe.

Scientists point out that initially, the Helm people did not adhere to this tradition. However, the bronze ornaments found in the lake indicate gradual changes in their behaviour. Initially, the ritual practices of the Helms differed from those of other Lusatians, but over time, traditions converged.

According to researchers, this discovery will contribute to a deeper understanding of the evolution of ritual practices in the late prehistoric period in Central Europe.

The Gaze publication previously reported that Ukraine had returned 14 ancient artefacts stolen by Russians from the occupied territories. These cultural treasures were attempting to be illegally transported to the United States. Among the items returned to Kyiv were samples of ancient weapons from the Neolithic to the medieval era. Researchers have now begun work to determine the exact origin of the found objects and the places of their previous storage. According to the main version, these artefacts were looted by Russians from museum collections in the occupied territories of Ukraine.