Rare artefacts discovered at an Iron Age settlement

Archaeologists conducting excavations at an Iron Age settlement in Pełczyska, South Poland, discovered a number of artefacts that indicate the presence of Germanic and Celtic peoples in the area. Among the finds are numerous fibulae, coins,  and fragments of glass vessels. The scientists are yet uncertain whether the settlement was occupied by Celtic (3rd-2nd BC) or younger, Germanic (3rd-4th AD) peoples.

Celtic coins from Pełczyska (by Marcin Rudnicki)
Celtic coins from Pełczyska (by Marcin Rudnicki)

Other finds include Roman imperial coins, pieces of terra sigillata vessels, fibulae, a silver buckle being part of a horse tack, a golden pendant in shape of an axe dated to 4th century, and glass gaming tokens. Among the finds is the only so far discovered in Poland Roman bronze spur. All of them indicate trade contacts with the Roman Empire.

Bronze Roman spur (by Marcin Rudnicki)
Iron Roman spur (by Marcin Rudnicki)

Beside numerous artefacts, of which some have been crafted with precious metals, for example bronze fibulae adorned with gold and silver, the archaeologists discovered traces of settlement infrastructure. One of such finds is a hearth that was used to burn out pottery. So far the archaeologists unearthed only the dome and are looking for the chamber where artefacts enabling dating of the structure are expected to be found. So far no such Celtic hearth has been found in the Ponidzie region, but a number of later, Germanic hearths have been documented. Numerous Celtic coins found at the site also allows the experts to suspect the presence of a mint that functioned during Celtic occupation of the settlement.

(after Nauka w Polsce & Marcin Rudnicki)

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