Researchers from the University of Lodz have uncovered a collection of artefacts in the dwelling of a medieval Polish knight, including an encolpion, a cross-shaped medallion historically used to safeguard sacred relics. This discovery was reported by Nauka i Polska and Polska.
The knight’s Southern Polish estate was located in July 2023. A preliminary survey revealed the presence of a timber tower standing on a hill that linked the 13th to the 15th centuries. The excavation now brings to light a cross-shaped medallion, an encolpion from ancient Greek meaning “in the chest,” crafted to hold holy relics. Such religious artefacts, often made from copper alloy, were symbolic items worn on the chest by medieval Christians, frequently bearing scripture quotes or biblical imagery. This find offers a tangible glimpse into the devotional practices and pendant-like symbolism that accompanied knighthood and regional piety during the era.
Beyond the encolpion, researchers recovered a variety of military items, including iron stirrups, a fragment of a horseshoe, crossbow arrows, and rope remnants. Domestic remnants were also found, such as a stove, door hardware, a lock and key, nails, hooks, and staples. The assemblage also included several silver coins and traces of a belt, painting a broader picture of daily life, trade, and the material culture surrounding the knight’s household. These artefacts contribute to a richer understanding of the social hierarchy, resource networks, and defensive needs of the period in this region. (Source: Nauka i Polska)
Earlier investigations by various researchers had hinted at a larger historical narrative about the area, including references to substantial, long-lost landmasses and ancient geographic conjectures. The current excavation adds a concrete chapter to that narrative by situating the relics within a specific domestic and defensive context, thereby helping to illuminate how medieval communities in southern Poland organized space, stored valuables, and engaged with religious symbolism in daily life. The cross and the other finds together speak to a world where faith, warfare, and domestic routine intersected on a landscape shaped by hillside fortifications and evolving medieval settlement patterns. (Source: Nauka i Polska)