6 May 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Małopolskie Region Reveals Oldest Evidence of Metal Mining in Poland, Dating Back 1,000 Years Earlier Than Previously Thought

Researchers have uncovered the oldest confirmed evidence of metal ore mining and metallurgy in Poland through the study of lead artifacts from the Early Iron Age (800–500 BCE) sourced from the Olkusz deposits.

Researchers from the Jagiellonian University (JU) Institute of Archaeology have co-authored a groundbreaking paper published in the latest edition of the journal Archaeometry. The study focuses on lead trinkets from the Early Iron Age (800–500 BCE) and employs isotopic provenance methods to demonstrate that these artifacts were crafted from lead sulfide sourced from the Olkusz deposits. This discovery marks the oldest confirmed evidence of metal ore mining and metallurgy in Poland.

The geographical distribution of material culture has long been a focal point in archaeology, helping to illuminate the communication networks of ancient societies. While traditional methods such as classification and typology have been widely used, archaeometric techniques are increasingly supplementing these approaches. These modern methods allow researchers to trace the origins of raw materials rather than just the production sites, thereby reconstructing long-distance trade routes. Geochemical methods, particularly those analyzing copper provenance, utilize unique ‘fingerprints’ based on trace elements and lead isotope ratios that vary across geological deposits.

During the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age, Europe witnessed significant advancements in trade relations, driven by the demand for valuable metals like copper, tin, and lead. The paper titled “The First Isotopic Evidence of Early Iron Age Lead Ore Exploitation in the Silesian-Krakow Upland, Poland: A Provenance Study of Lusatian Culture Lead Ornaments” presents new findings on the use of galena ores (lead sulfide) from Silesia and the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, known as the Olkusz ore deposits.

Lead tube necklace from the early Iron Age (800–500 BCE) discovered in a cemetery in Jankowice, Lesser Poland. Credit:  R. Czech-Błońska
Lead tube necklace from the early Iron Age (800–500 BCE) discovered in a cemetery in Jankowice, Lesser Poland. Credit: R. Czech-Błońska

The researchers analyzed eleven lead trinkets from late Lusatian culture cemeteries using lead isotope analysis, confirming that most were made from local ore. This indicates that the Olkusz lead deposits were exploited much earlier than previously believed, now dated to 1,000 years earlier.

Dr. Karol Dzięgielewski from the JU Institute of Archaeology noted that historical records and geochemical data had previously confirmed the use of these deposits during the Middle Ages and Roman period. The recent findings extend the timeline of local deposit exploitation to the 1st millennium BCE, marking the earliest evidence of metal smelting from ores in Polish lands. Despite the extensive knowledge of metalworking in the region, the extraction of metals from ores had not been confirmed until this study. Throughout the Bronze Age, only imported copper, tin, and lead were utilized in what is now Poland.

He further noted, “Our research indicates that lead extraction from Olkusz galena deposits can be traced back to the 1st millennium BCE, suggesting that mining and smelting of metal ores in Poland began around the 8th or 7th century BCE, starting with lead rather than copper.”

The research team plans to continue their investigations by comparing archaeological and geochemical tools to reconstruct the distribution patterns of raw materials for metallurgical production, particularly copper alloys, from the Bronze Age (circa 2000 BCE) to the end of the Early Iron Age (circa 450 BCE).

Lead ring from the Early Iron Age (800–500 BCE) discovered in a cemetery in Świbie, Silesian Voivodeship. Credit: M. Michnik, K. Dzięgielewski
Lead ring from the Early Iron Age (800–500 BCE) discovered in a cemetery in Świbie, Silesian Voivodeship. Credit: M. Michnik, K. Dzięgielewski

They aim to enhance the database of isotopic signatures (lead and tin) related to artifacts from this period. For iron artifacts, they will analyze the chemical composition of slag and employ innovative techniques involving osmium and strontium isotopes, referencing a comprehensive collection of geochemical data on prehistoric metal ore deposits across Europe.

The main authors of the study include Dr. Ewelina Miśta-Jakubowska, Dr. Karol Dzięgielewski, and Renata Czech-Błońska from the JU Institute of Archaeology, with contributions from scientists at AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, the National Centre for Nuclear Research in Otwock, and the University of Warsaw.

Jagiellonian University

Cover Image Credit:Lead pendant from the Early Iron Age (800–500 BCE) discovered in a cemetery in Jankowice, Lesser Poland Voivodeship Credit: R. Czech-Błońska

Related Articles

A Roman statue unearthed on the site of St Polyeuctus’ church, which once Constantinople’s largest church

5 April 2023

5 April 2023

At Saraçhane Archaeology Park, where the Church of St. Polyeuctus is situated, excavation work by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) teams...

Magical Roman Phallus Wind Chime Unearthed in Serbia

15 November 2023

15 November 2023

Archaeologists have unearthed a Roman phallus wind chime known as a tintinnabulum, during excavations at the ancient city of Viminacium...

Egyptian archaeologists discovered 16 meters long ancient papyrus with spells from the Book of the Dead

19 January 2023

19 January 2023

Archaeologists working in Egypt’s Saqqara region have unearthed a 16-meter-long ancient papyrus for the first time in a century. Saqqara...

Archaeologists in eastern Newfoundland unearth the oldest English coin ever found in Canada

14 November 2021

14 November 2021

Archaeologists in eastern Newfoundland have unearthed a rare two-penny piece minted between 1493 and 1499 more than 520 years ago....

Who really fought in the Battle of Himera? Researchers found the answer to the question

14 May 2021

14 May 2021

According to the Ancient Greek Historians, victory over the Carthaginians in the Battle of Himera was won by the alliance...

Treasure of 1,290 Ancient Roman Coins Discovered by Amateur Archaeologist in Switzerland

16 April 2022

16 April 2022

An amateur archeologist has found a big treasure trove of over 1,290 priceless, ancient Roman coins dating back to the...

Maya Farmers May Have Planned Population Growth Contrary to Thought

19 November 2021

19 November 2021

Contrary to what was thought, Maya farmers may have planned for population growth, says a new study. According to a...

An Elamite clay tablet has been discovered in Burnt City

6 January 2022

6 January 2022

An Elamite clay tablet was discovered within the Burnt City by a team of Iranian, Italian, and Serbian archeologists. Called...

Medieval subterranean corridors found by accident in northeast Iran

1 October 2022

1 October 2022

The workers working on a routine road construction project near Shahr-e Belqeys (City of Belqeys) in northeast Iran made an...

1,500-year-old secret underground passage uncovered in Istanbul

15 May 2023

15 May 2023

During the ongoing excavations in the ruins of Saint Polyeuktos Church in Istanbul’s Saraçhane neighborhood, which was destroyed during the...

Horse cemetery in Westminster revealed as likely resting place for elite imported animals

25 March 2024

25 March 2024

Archaeological analysis of a medieval horse cemetery discovered in London nearly 30 years ago has revealed the international scale of...

Czech experimental archaeologists successfully completed their 1-month voyage in the Aegean Sea using a replica of a prehistoric vessel

17 July 2023

17 July 2023

Radomír Tichý, an archeology professor at the University of Hradec Králové who is also the director of the Všestary Archeopark,...

An Unusual Artifact Points to Roman Britain Rituals Linked to Fertility, Painted Dog Penis Bone Found in England

9 January 2025

9 January 2025

In a Roman quarry shaft in Surrey, England, archaeologists have discovered one of the most unusual human and animal remains...

A Roman copper-alloy tiny tortoise figurine found in Suffolk

3 December 2023

3 December 2023

In July last year, a small Roman copper alloy tortoise or turtle figurine was discovered by metal detectors near the...

An architectural gem from the medieval monastery of Posa, Germany

26 July 2023

26 July 2023

Archaeological excavations have been taking place on the Posaer Berg (Posa Hill) near Zeitz (Burgenland) every year since 2017. They...