Date:

17th Century Treasure Discovered at Road Construction Site

Members of the “Jaćwież” Historical and Exploration Association have discovered over 500 coins dating from the 17th century at a construction site in Ełk, Poland.

The discovery was made by researchers who were using metal detectors to survey the removed soil during the resurfacing of a road.

They found a total of 507 silver coins that date from the first half of the 17th century and originate from various European countries. Local reports state that there are Polish, Swedish, Dutch, Scottish and Danish coins of various denominations.

Some of the identified coins depict Fryderyk Wilhelm, Charles X Gustav, Jan Kazimierz, Leopold II, Georg Wilhelm, Christian IV (Denmark), Charles II (Scotland) and Sigismund III.

- Advertisement -

The coins were hidden sometime after 1652, as identified by the most recent date on one of the coins. The researchers suppose that the coins may have been buried by a local merchant or innkeeper, or possibly a soldier in a clay pot for safekeeping.

At the time, Ełk was located within the boundaries of the Duchy of Prussia and was located on a major trade route connecting Mazovia (a historical region in mid-north-eastern Poland) with Königsberg (the historic Prussian name for modern-day Kaliningrad, Russia).

The coins are to be presented to the Historical Museum in Ełk for conservation and further identification before being put on public display.

Header Image Credit : “Jaćwież” Historical and Exploration Association

- Advertisement -
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan is an award winning journalist and the Managing Editor at HeritageDaily. His background is in archaeology and computer science, having written over 7,500 articles across several online publications. Mark is a member of the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW), the World Federation of Science Journalists, and in 2023 was the recipient of the British Citizen Award for Education and the BCA Medal of Honour.

Mobile Application

spot_img

Related Articles

Inca quarries and road network found in Cañete

Archaeologists have discovered Inca quarries and a road network in Cerros de Quilmaná and Cerro Quinta Freno, in the province of Cañete, Peru.

Prison bakery for enslaved people found in Roman Pompeii

Archaeologists have uncovered a Prison bakery during recent excavations in Pompeii.

Baboons in Ancient Egypt were raised in captivity before being mummified

In a new study published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, researchers examined a collection of baboon mummies from the ancient Egyptian site of Gabbanat el-Qurud, the so-called Valley of the Monkeys on the west bank of Luxor.

Archaeologists find 22 mummified burials in Peru

A Polish-Peruvian team of archaeologists have uncovered 22 mummified burials in Barranca, Peru.

Oldest prehistoric fortress found in remote Siberia

An international team, led by archaeologists from Freie Universität Berlin has uncovered an ancient prehistoric fortress in a remote region of Siberia known as Amnya.

Top 10 archaeological discoveries of 2023

The field of archaeology has been continuously evolving in 2023, making significant strides in uncovering new historical findings, preserving cultural heritage, and employing innovative technologies to study the past.

War in Ukraine sees destruction of cultural heritage not witnessed since WW2

The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 has resulted in a significant loss of human lives and the national and international displacement of many Ukrainian people.

Archaeologists find five Bronze Age axes in the forests of Kociewie

According to an announcement by the Pomeranian Provincial Conservator of Monuments, archaeologists have discovered five Bronze Age axes in Starogard Forest District, located in Kociewie, Poland.