A heavy bronze bracelet dating back to the 8th–9th century BCE has been unearthed in the forested Kociewie region of northern Poland. The 267-gram artifact, remarkably well-preserved, will soon become part of the collection at the Archaeological Museum in Gdańsk.
The discovery was made by the “Kociewie Explorers,” a local group of licensed metal detectorists, after five weekends of fieldwork. According to team leader Cezary Modrzejewski, one member received a powerful signal from his detector, dug a small hole, and revealed the large, slightly flattened circular bracelet buried just 20 centimeters below the surface.
The day after the find, the team uncovered two fibulae—ancient garment fasteners—and a fragment of another piece of jewelry from the same area. Experts from the Pomorskie Provincial Heritage Office have confirmed the bracelet’s dating to the Late Bronze Age.
“All archaeological finds of this kind must be reported and handed over to the authorities, as they are the property of the state,” said office spokesperson Marcin Tymiński. “While there is currently no monetary reward for such discoveries, changes to the heritage protection law in 2027 will introduce financial incentives.”
After documentation and conservation work, the bracelet will go on public display at the Archaeological Museum in Gdańsk, offering visitors a rare glimpse into the craftsmanship of Poland’s prehistoric past.
Cover Image credit: Facebook/Pomeranian Voivodeship Monument Protection Officer. Photo: M. Tymiński/WUOZ, Gdańsk