Record low Vistula level reveals mystery. Fisherman stumbles upon medieval treasure

This is probably not what the fisherman who found a medieval sword in the Vistula a few days ago was counting on. "There was supposed to be such a fish, but there is such a sword!" - we read on the website of the Capital Conservator of Monuments.

Fishing rod , bait , comfortable seat and sandwiches . This doesn't sound like the equipment of a medieval artifact hunter, does it? And yet, armed with similar equipment, the fisherman, although hoping to find a large fish, pulled out of the Vistula ... a sword.

- There was supposed to be such a fish, but there is such a sword! As you can see, the Vistula River hides no small treasures. A fisherman fished out a medieval sword from its current in Warsaw . The sword is preserved almost along its entire length, with a characteristic spherical head and an intriguing sign of the cross on the shaft - we read on the Facebook page of the Warsaw Conservator of Monuments .

A medieval sword was found in the Vistula River / photo: Facebook, Warsaw Monument Conservator

It all happened on Tuesday, July 1, near Warsaw's Tarchomin . The record low level of the Polish river certainly helped to find the medieval weapon. But what was the sword doing in the river and where did it come from? There will be time for these answers.

Importantly, the fisherman behaved phenomenally in this situation . Instead of keeping the unique item for himself, as a perfect trophy to brag about during every meeting with friends, he took the sword to a specialist. As we read in the post on the Warsaw Conservator of Monuments , it is a statutory obligation, and every such item found in water or in the ground belongs to the State Treasury . It is worth remembering this.

- He brought it to our office on Wednesday. We confirmed that it is a medieval sword. We will know more after further analysis - conservator Michał Krasucki told the State Press Agency .

What next? The sword was immediately transferred to the Metal Conservation Workshop of the State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw . The specialists there will take care of securing the item.

The Vistula River holds many secrets and curiosities. Recently, at about the height of Tamka Street, a historical firearm was found, a flintlock pistol . It is possible that due to the low level of the Vistula , the river will soon reveal more surprises.