Treasure-Laden Viking Cemetery Discovered in Poland

A mysterious burial ground dated to the late 10th and early 11th centuries A.D. has been discovered in a recent archaeological excavation in Poland. Located in the small village of Bodzia in central Poland, the site was excavated from 2007 through 2009 by archaeologists from the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

The discovery is the most recent in a series of excavations of funeral sites in Polish lands dated from the end of the 10th to the middle of the 11th century and connected to the presence of migrants, mostly from Scandinavia. Apart from the graves, the burial grounds contain rich grave goods comprising weapons, high-quality jewellery, ornaments, coins, amulets and many other finds.

Chamber grave E864 with the richly equipped burial of a young warrior. (S. Gronek)

The Bodzia cemetery showing the outlines of the chamber graves and the rectangular fences preserved under a layer of arable soil. (A. Buko)

Fragment of a necklace from chamber grave E61composed of beads of silver, combined with rock crystal and carnelian. (M. Jórdeczka)

Kaptorga (amulet container) made of silver with the image of an eagle. (M. Jórdeczka)

An ornate bronze balance. (M. Jórdeczka)