A metal detectorist in Poland unearthed an "exceptionally rare" copper dagger believed to be over 4,000 years old. Piotr Gorlach made the discovery near the village of Korzenica in Subcarpathia Province.
According to archaeologist Marcin Burghardt from the Jarosław museum, the find, known as the Korzenica dagger, is the oldest metal dagger found in southeastern Poland, surprising experts due to its rarity compared to the only similar dagger found in the 1960s.
4,000-Year-Old Copper Dagger Rewrites History in Southeastern Poland
Gorlach recalled that while he was preparing to end his search for the day near the village of Korzenica in Subcarpathia Province, he left the metal detector on out of habit. Following a signal, he unearthed a flat metal object covered in green patina from the forest floor, realizing it was far older than the military items he typically sought from World War I and II.
Subsequently, Gorlach reported his find to archaeologists at the Orsetti House Museum in Jarosław, leading to a preliminary investigation of the artifact. Archaeologists, including Marcin Burghardt and Elżbieta Sieradzka-Burghardt, determined that the dagger dates back to the second half of the 3rd millennium B.C.
Notably, this discovery is unique in southeastern Poland, predating the appearance of bronze items and highlighting the rarity of copper objects during that period.
Elżbieta Sieradzka-Burghardt emphasized that the dagger, made entirely of copper and not bronze, holds significance in the region's archaeological context. Its origin is likely tied to the Carpathian Basin, Ukrainian steppe, or forest steppe, with hopes that specialized metallurgical analyses will unravel its mysterious origin.
The dagger's importance extends beyond its rarity; it is expected to play a crucial role in understanding the transition from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age in southeastern Poland.
Cultural Significance of a Soft Copper Dagger in 3rd Millennium B.C. Southeastern Poland
In the third millennium B.C., the scarcity of copper items denoted exclusivity, with only those of the highest social standing able to afford them. The dagger, believed to have been wielded by a warrior of significant social status by Burghardt, was unlikely to have been used in battle due to the soft nature of copper.
Burghardt explained that these copper daggers, primarily functioning as symbols of high social status, were considered less practical for combat due to their softness.
The discovery of this dagger offers valuable insights into the early evolution of metal use in the region. Despite its limited utility in combat due to its soft composition, the dagger likely served the purpose of symbolizing elevated social status within the community. However, the absence of associated artifacts has hindered archaeologists from linking the dagger to a specific archaeological culture.
While the dagger's origin remains uncertain, Sieradzka-Burghardt notes that its features share similarities with artifacts from the Bell Beaker culture in Western and Ceentral Europe and the Catacomb culture in Eastern Europe and Western Asia.
The upcoming metallurgical analysis may reveal the dagger's external origin, with ties to the Ukrainian forest-steppe or Central Europe suggesting cultural exchanges and goods influx into southeastern Poland.
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