Ancient amethyst, fit for a duke, uncovered in the moat of a 600-year-old Polish castle.
In an extraordinary discovery, archaeologists have uncovered a rare medieval amethyst jewel in the moat of Castle Kolno, located in southwestern Poland. This find offers a captivating glimpse into the lives of the medieval aristocracy and sheds light on the castle's history.
**Background**
Built in the early 13th century, Castle Kolno served as both a fortress and a residential home for Duke Bolesław III of Brzeg. Its strategic position made it a checkpoint for regulating the local timber trade. Over time, the property changed hands, eventually being sold to a group of wealthy knights. Tragically, the castle was destroyed by fire during the civil wars in Silesia in 1443 and remained in ruins for centuries.
**Discovery of the Amethyst Jewel**
The jewel, found buried in the sediment of the castle's moat, lies between wooden posts that once formed part of a collapsed bridge. This location is unusual, as medieval jewelry is rarely discovered in settlement sites; typically, it is found in graves or hidden hoards.
**Description and Craftsmanship**
The discovered piece is a silver ornament adorned with fire-gilding and set with a deep purple amethyst. It is believed to have been part of a brooch or possibly a coronet, reflecting the craftsmanship and wealth of the medieval nobility. The metal parts of the jewelry were revealed to be silver and fire-gilded, a process that involved considerable amounts of mercury.
**Dating**
Based on stratigraphic and dendrochronological evidence, the jewel is dated between the early 14th and mid-15th centuries, aligning with the castle's active use as an aristocratic residence.
**Significance**
The discovery of this amethyst jewel is significant not only for its craftsmanship but also for the context in which it was found. Unlike many other historical artifacts, this piece appears to have been lost during routine travel rather than being carefully buried or hidden. This everyday loss provides a unique insight into the daily lives of nobility during the Middle Ages.
**Archaeological Impact**
The ongoing excavations at Castle Kolno, led by Dr. Lech Marek from the University of Wrocław, have revealed a range of artifacts, including military gear, cavalry items, and ceramics dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries. However, the amethyst jewel stands out as a rare find that offers fresh perspectives on the personal belongings and habits of the medieval upper class.
Medieval amethysts were popular due to their symbolic meaning, availability, and aesthetic qualities. They were believed to represent faith, modesty, and martyrdom. Moreover, the value of medieval jewels increased if they were believed to be charged with supernatural powers. Medieval folklore attributed protective properties to amethysts, including protection from intoxication, venom, gout, bad dreams, treason, deceit, captivity, blindness, enchantment, and strangulation.
This discovery challenges common assumptions about how high-value items were circulated and lost in medieval Poland. The amethyst jewel found at Castle Kolno's moat offers a compelling story of a lost treasure, a testament to the opulence and grandeur of the medieval aristocracy.
This aristocratic jewel, an unusual find at Castle Kolno's moat, sheds light on the home-and-garden lifestyle of the medieval nobility, suggesting that even precious objects could unintentionally be lost during everyday activities. In the context of its discovery, we can gain a deeper understanding of the lifestyle encompassing the castle's grounds.
Furthermore, the intricate amethyst jewel, symbolizing faith, modesty, and various supernatural powers, reminds us of the importance of home-and-garden embellishments in expressing the wealth and status of the medieval aristocracy, showcasing the aesthetic and cultural value of such home-and-garden items.