Polish hobbyists uncover ancient treasures while hunting for rockets

A metal-detecting club based in Kalisz, in central Poland, says a summer dig yielded a trove of medieval coins, silver ingots and other artifacts after the group began the excursion hoping to locate German V-2 rockets. Denar Kalisz, Stowarzyszenie Poszukiwaczy Śladów Historii, described the finds as a remarkable turn from rocket hunting to treasure hunting and said the discoveries reinforce the group’s long-standing interest in uncovering local history.

On June 7, a member named Hubert Piasecki found the first vessel, a clay pot containing 631 artifacts from the early Middle Ages. The items included cross denarii and foreign coins from England, including pieces from King Harold I, along with German, Hungarian and Czech issues, and silver ingots. Based on recent CT scans, the vessel appears packed with silver coins and had not yet been opened when documented by the group. A few weeks later, on June 28, another member, Michał Makuch, found a second pot filled with early medieval coins. The summer dig, the group said, yielded a stunning haul of 631 artifacts from the Middle Ages.

In addition to the coins, the summer project produced an extraordinary non-numismatic find: a gold necklace weighing 222 grams of pure gold, dating to the Roman influence period and believed to be as much as 1,800 years old. The find was attributed to Mateusz Lachowicz, whom Kurowiak called the lucky finder this time. The discovery added a tangible, high-value piece to what the association described as a collectively earned breakthrough. Kurowiak noted that the group’s success came with a commitment to proper archaeological practice and collaboration with professionals.

The Denar Kalisz group emphasizes that excavations are conducted in cooperation with professional archaeologists and that all artifacts are handed over to Poland’s Conservator of Monuments and, eventually, the Museum of the Kalisz Region. The group also said it maintains an international following, including American fans, drawn by reports of the summer digs and their historical significance.

Poland has seen a string of notable archaeological finds in recent months. In Gdańsk, archaeologists uncovered the burial of an elite knight beneath a former ice cream parlor, while in Kraków’s Wawel Royal Castle, excavators found a remarkable ring dating to centuries past. These discoveries underscore ongoing historical research across the country and highlight the role hobbyists can play when working in concert with professional institutions.

The Denar Kalisz members say the partnership with authorities is essential to ensuring that artifacts are preserved and studied within a proper historical framework. They describe their hobby as a long-term pursuit rooted in curiosity and a desire to preserve local heritage. As the group continues its summer work, authorities and historians will monitor what the finds reveal about Poland’s medieval and Roman-influenced landscapes, and how such discoveries fit into broader regional histories.