According to CBS News, archaeologists in Poland have uncovered the remarkably well-preserved skeleton of a medieval knight beneath the site of an ice cream parlour in the historic city of Gdańsk, presenting local archaeologists with a unique opportunity.
The grave was found in an ancient cemetery with nearly 300 burials, adjacent to Gdańsk's oldest known church, which was located in a medieval fortress occupied from the late 11th century to the early 14th century.
Archaeologists from the ArcheoScan Archaeological and Conservation Workshop have been working at the site in the historic district of Śródmieście since 2023, where the original location of the ice cream parlor Miś sat above a medieval cemetery. After the relocation of Miś—which had operated at the site in Gdańsk since 1962—archaeologists seized the opportunity to investigate what history might lie beneath its former location. Earlier this month, they lifted a decorated limestone tombstone adorned with the sculpted image of a knight, revealing the complete remains of an adult male beneath it, believed to have lived in the 13th or 14th century.
"The tombstone is made of Gotland limestone, a highly valued material during the Middle Ages," said Sylwia Kurzyńska. She described the find as "one of the most important archaeological discoveries in Poland in recent years" and noted its "exceptional significance." The relief on the tombstone depicts a knight in full chainmail armor, standing upright with an uplifted sword, a posture likely symbolizing authority and high social status. According to Kurzyńska, such detailed knightly depictions are rare in medieval sepulchral art, where simpler engravings or crosses were more common.
The knight was buried about five inches under the tombstone, and the skeleton was lying directly beneath it. The bones were arranged naturally, indicating that the tombstone is the original burial site of the man. Dr. Aleksandra Pudło noted that the skull and bones of the skeleton were very well-preserved. Initial analysis determined the man was somewhere between 5'7" and 5'11" tall at the time of his death, significantly taller than the medieval average. According to Kurzyńska, "this height is much greater than that of medieval people." The man was estimated to be about 40 years old at the time of his death.
"Although no grave goods were found, all available evidence suggests that the deceased was a person of high social standing—most likely a knight or commander held in particularly high esteem and respect," Kurzyńska explained.
The tombstone measures approximately 150 centimeters (4 feet 11 inches) in length. Despite centuries underground, the tombstone remains in "remarkably good condition," according to Kurzyńska. Important details of the artwork on the tombstone can still be seen, despite being partially damaged.
On July 8, the headstone was moved to Gdańsk's Archaeological Museum, where conservationists are now working on cleaning and preserving the finds. Archaeologists will oversee a full 3D scan of the slab to create a digital rendering, which will allow for the digital reconstruction of the lost fragments of the tombstone.
The skeleton will undergo anthropological and genetic analyses, and specialists will perform a facial reconstruction based on the skull. "A facial reconstruction will also be attempted to bring the face of the long-buried knight back to life," said Kurzyńska.
It's not clear who the knight may have served. During the 13th and 14th centuries, Gdańsk was occupied by the Teutonic Knights, a German Catholic military order founded in Jerusalem in 1190 during the Crusades. It's also possible that the knight may have served the Sobiesław dynasty, which ruled Gdańsk during the 11th and 12th centuries. Early analysis determined the tombstone likely dates back to the 13th or 14th century, but the grave's exact age remains in question.
"The latest find is an invaluable source of knowledge about the life and death of the military elite of Gdańsk in the 13th and 14th centuries, about medieval burial traditions, and about inter-Baltic cultural connections," Kurzyńska added. She noted that the discovery provides insights into the funeral traditions of the time.
Researchers say several other archaeological discoveries have been made at the site, including the remains of cottages dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries and an ancient city street.
Further examinations revealed the tombstone was cracked into four pieces. After carefully removing the limestone, archaeologists located a rectangular arrangement of 23 additional field stones. Beneath the field stones lay a complete skeleton.
More research will be conducted on the skeleton and the tombstone, as well as other relics found during the dig. Pudło said that the skeleton of the knight will undergo a thorough examination, and the results of that may be available as early as next year.
Written with the help of a news-analysis system.