700-Year-Old Tombstone of a Mysterious Medieval Knight Unearthed in Poland, Revealing Secrets of the Past
“This is the center of Gdańsk, a place popularly referred to as a ‘castle.’ It is the oldest and most precious archaeological site in the city,” Kurzyńska said.
The reference to “castle” is where the Śródmieście I site got its name. However, the site was also home to an actual castle in the 14th century.
Sometime between 1335 and 1341, the Teutonic Knights, a German religious and military order formed during the Crusades, built a brick castle at the current archaeological site.
The city, which was historically known as Danzig, served as an important fortress for knights for the next century. Then, residents of Gdańsk destroyed the castle in 1454.
Once the knight tombstone is fully excavated and conserved, it will be sent to the Archaeological Museum in Gdańsk for further study and safekeeping.
Archaeologists are trying to complete this excavation as quickly and effectively as possible, as the tombstone may already be deteriorating. “We’re noticing that the sharp edges are starting to flake,” said Kurzyńska.
Only time will tell who lies within the grave — and what role they played in medieval society.
After reading about the discovery of the tombstone in Poland that depicts a medieval knight, go inside the history of the Knights Templar. Then, learn 23 medieval knight facts you probably didn’t know.
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