2,500 Year Old Ornamental Dagger Found on Beach

Two metal detectorists, searching for treasure at a beach in northern Poland, discovered a piece of history lodged in a lump of clay: a small ornamental dagger decorated with stars, crescent moons and geometric patterns.

According to the nearby Museum of the History of Kamień Land, the dagger is a metallurgical masterpiece that could be up to 2,500 years old. It’s likely connected to the Hallstatt culture, which existed in western Europe between roughly the eighth and fifth centuries B.C.E. Experts think the weapons may have been crafted in southern Europe and imported to the Baltic coast.

The weapon’s thin handle is decorated with sculpted rings. It extends into a blade about the width of a thumb, which narrows to a sharp point. The top of the blade is stamped with tiny crescent moons and stars, while geometric patterns run the rest of its length.

The decorative stars may symbolize constellations, indicating a ritual significance in connection with a solar cult. Alternatively, it could have been used by a wealthy warrior.

The dagger is now in the hands of experts at the museum staffers, who will soon conduct a metallurgical analysis, which will reveal the dagger’s metallic composition and the techniques used to create it.

The ornamental artifact is considered to be a valuable piece of the history of Pomerania - the historical European region that encompasses Kamień.

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