Marcin Dawidowicz, the Mazovian provincial conservator of historical monuments, has reported this sensational find—a Neolithic hatchet—dating back over 4,000 years.
Dawidowicz shared the exciting news with the Polish Press Agency (PAP). "It was found by accident during garden work by a lady and her child," he revealed. Although the hatchet wasn't in its native soil but in material brought from elsewhere, its discovery is nonetheless extraordinary.
"Such a find is rare, and we are impressed that someone recognized its significance and informed us," Dawidowicz emphasized. He noted that while similar objects exist in archaeological museum collections, this particular hatchet might be handed over to a smaller institution that can fully appreciate its value.
The hatchet, made of flint, is believed to be linked to the Corded Ware culture, known for its distinctive pottery decorated with imprinted rope patterns. This culture, once referred to as the battleaxe culture due to numerous axes found in graves, spread across a vast area from southern Scandinavia to the eastern Carpathians, between the Rhine and the middle Volga rivers.
In Poland, the Corded Ware culture primarily settled in regions like Silesia, Kuyavia, and southern and southeastern Lesser Poland. The discovery in Józefów adds a significant piece to this cultural puzzle.
(jh)
Source: PAP