A beautifully decorated dagger from the Hallstatt period—an era renowned for its advanced metalworking—was uncovered on Sunday by members of the St. Cordula Association for the Saving of Monuments.

Jacek Ukowski, the association’s president, described the find as his most valuable discovery, emphasizing that it was purely accidental. “The cliff had collapsed, and the block must have fallen from above. I entered the area with a metal detector because it started beeping,” he explained.

The weapon, estimated to be around 2,800 years old, dates back to the early Iron Age. Spanning 24.2 cm in length, the handle and blade are adorned with intricate decorations, according to a report from the Polish news site Interia.

Following its discovery, the dagger was donated to the Museum of the History of Kamień Land in northwestern Poland.

A MASTERPIECE OF ANCIENT CRAFTSMANSHIP

“A true work of art! The craftsmanship is of extremely high quality, and the ornamentation is exquisite. Every engraved detail is unique,” said Grzegorz Kurka, the museum’s director. “As far as discoveries in Poland go, I have never encountered a dagger like this.” Although the find was made along the western part of the Polish coast, Kurka declined to disclose the exact location.

A LINK TO A SOLAR CULT?

“The blade is decorated with linear crescents and crosses resembling stars. A central design possibly symbolizing constellations runs along the middle of the blade, while diagonal lines complete the intricate pattern,” Kurka shared on social media.

These engravings may indicate a connection to a solar cult, suggesting that the dagger held ritual significance. Alternatively, it could have belonged to a high-ranking warrior. Either way, the artistry reflects an impressive level of metallurgical skill.

“It may be an imported piece, cast in a workshop in southern Europe,” Kurka speculated.

He also emphasized the dagger’s historical importance: “This discovery stands as a testament to the remarkable history of the region and Western Pomerania, spanning thousands of years.”