Underwater archaeologists recovered four medieval spearheads from Lake Lednica, including a richly gilded and decorated example that may have symbolized high status. One spear remains attached to its original 2 m ash shaft tipped with an antler ring, a rare preservation. Other finds include a willow-leaf shaped point and a welded-steel example demonstrating advanced medieval metallurgy. Researchers are using macro X-ray fluorescence to investigate the metal composition and origin; investigations at the lake are ongoing.
Gilded Medieval Spear Pulled from Lake Lednica May Have Belonged to a Prince
Underwater archaeologists recovered four medieval spearheads from Lake Lednica, including a richly gilded and decorated example that may have symbolized high status. One spear remains attached to its original 2 m ash shaft tipped with an antler ring, a rare preservation. Other finds include a willow-leaf shaped point and a welded-steel example demonstrating advanced medieval metallurgy. Researchers are using macro X-ray fluorescence to investigate the metal composition and origin; investigations at the lake are ongoing.
07:55 AM, 11/19/2025Culture
Underwater archaeologists exploring Lake Lednica in Poland have recovered four medieval spearheads, including a richly decorated, gilded example that may have belonged to a high-ranking warrior or a prince, researchers say.
What was found
One spearhead is plated with gold, silver, bronze and other metals and is covered in intricate spiral and triskelion motifs. Wing-like elements near the base add to its decorative program, suggesting ceremonial or symbolic use rather than a strictly functional weapon.
“This is rare, as only two spears from Lake Lednica have such a well-preserved shaft,” said Andrzej Pydyn, professor of archaeology at Nicolaus Copernicus University and director of the university's Center for Underwater Archaeology.
The smallest spearhead remains fixed to an ash-wood shaft about 2 meters (6.5 feet) long and is tipped with an antler ring — a rare state of preservation for wooden elements. A second spearhead is described as slender and willow-leaf shaped, a common early medieval design. The fourth example was produced using a welded forging technique that combines softer, low-carbon steel with harder, high-carbon steel, resulting in a blade with superior combat properties and reflecting advanced metallurgical skill for the period.
Context and significance
Lake Lednica has a long record of medieval finds: divers from Nicolaus Copernicus University have been working there for about 40 years and have recovered roughly 145 axes, 64 spearheads and eight swords. Scholars debate why so many weapons accumulated in the lake. One hypothesis links the deposits to unrest following the death of King Mieszko II in 1034, when contemporary sources describe an invasion by Czech prince Bretislaus that sacked Gniezno and likely attacked nearby fortified sites. Weapons could have been lost during fighting on bridges or boats connecting the island and mainland.
Another explanation is ritual deposition. Around 1,000 years ago the region was undergoing Christianization while many pagan practices continued; deliberate votive offerings of weapons into water are documented elsewhere in Europe and remain a plausible explanation for at least some of the finds.
Next steps
The research team is applying macro X-ray fluorescence (MA‑XRF) to map the spearheads' chemical composition and trace metal sources, which may clarify where and how the objects were made and whether the gilded piece was produced locally or imported. Excavation and underwater exploration at Lake Lednica continue as specialists seek further context for these discoveries.