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Underwater archaeologists have discovered a wooden surface dating back more than 1,000 years.
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Experts said the face could have been used to ward off evil spirits from the settlement.
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Similar carvings have been discovered in other Slavic cities, suggesting a greater spiritual practice in medieval Slavic life.
Many ancient wooden structures have been lost over time, as wood unfortunately decomposes quickly. However, water can act as a time capsule—in perfectly anaerobic wetland or underwater conditions, wood can live for centuries. And recently, archaeologists from the Nicolaus Copernicus University (NCU) discovered a striking example of that preservation—a 1,000-year-old wooden surface during an underwater research expedition.
In 2024, scientists from the Center for Underwater Archeology of the NCU and the Museum of the First Piasts in Lednica found the face submerged in Lake Lednica of Poland. The team recently presented its findings at a press conference.
The face was carved on a wooden structural beam called a hook. According to press release from NCU, the carving measures 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) high and 9 (3.5 inches) wide, and features intricate details including realistic eyes, nose, mouth, and an oval-shaped head. The wood was also marked with the number 353.
Experts estimate that the tree from which the face (and the beam) were carved the face tree fell in 967, which means that the carving has probably existed for more than a millennium. This was around the same time that the founder of the Polish state, Mieszko I, was baptized, and Poland turned into a state of Christian assimilation.
This is not the first surface of its kind to be discovered. Similar drawings have been found in other Slavic cities including Wolin, Novgorod the Great, and Staraya Ladoga. According to experts, the consistency between these findings suggest that the beam found in Lednica reflects a local artistic and spiritual tradition, rather than a Scandinavian or Rus influence. In short, the recent discovery is only one piece in the larger puzzle of medieval Slavic life.
“This discovery not only evokes admiration for the craftsmanship of more than a thousand years ago but also opens a fascinating discussion about the spiritual life of early medieval Slavs,” said Andrzej Pydyn, director of the Center for Underwater Archeology at NCU, in the press release.
Experts suggest that the beam on which the face was carved served as part of the settlement’s defensive ramparts—and its purpose may have gone beyond just architecture. The style of woodwork suggests that the face had a mystical meaning, and probably depicted a deity, a protective spirit, or a hero watching over the inhabitants of the area.
Other evidence supports the idea of being part of the spiritual practices of medieval Slavic society. The researchers also discovered horse jaws and bones around the ramparts, which may have come from ritual offerings or protective sacrifices, said Mateusz Popek from the NCU. The team also found similar bones under the houses.
“The [wood] face is a priceless monument and a rare example of an object that combines utility and symbolic functions,” place from the Museum of the First Piasts in Lednica reads. “The find from Lake Lednica not only impresses, but also opens new questions about the life, culture and spirituality of the inhabitants of these lands from more than a thousand years ago.”
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