Środa Treasure

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Gold crown of the Środa Treasure
Gold clasp featuring a chalcedonic cameo with an eagle surrounded by precious stones

The Środa Treasure (

National Museum in Wrocław
and has been kept at the Regional Museum in Środa Śląska.

Discovery and excavation

Gold and silver coins were discovered during demolition works and digging for the foundation of the local telephone exchange building in the town of Środa on 8 June 1985.

florin coins).[1][2] Most of this new find disappeared before the site was secured by the authorities. In the following days, as enterprising individuals scoured the municipal landfill where rubble from other recently demolished buildings was deposited, reports of more discoveries started appearing; those include the first reports of jewelry.[1][2]

Archaeologists began to investigate the site, and the government announced a plan to buy back items that had been looted. Later, a criminal investigation was launched, targeting those who still refused to turn back the items they had taken. Although many items were recovered, it is agreed that there are still missing items. Looted items have been recovered intermittently.[3]

History

Over the following years, archaeologists and historians have speculated about the treasure's origins, while museums and wealthy individuals have competed for pieces of the treasure.

It is now agreed that the treasure belonged to the King (later Emperor)

Duchy of Wroclaw (Breslau) and passed under reign of Bohemian kings in 1335.[1][2][4] What is certain is that no one ever reclaimed the treasure, which was left hidden somewhere in the town for hundreds of years.[1][2][4]

The artifacts

Various recovered items have been cataloged, and those that were damaged by the mechanical digger that uncovered them have been restored.

National Museum in Wrocław (which supervises the museum in Środa), National Archeological Museum in Warsaw, as well as abroad, in the Museum of Artistic Craft in Dresden, Germany and in Valladolid, Spain.[2]

The treasure is considered immensely valuable, described by some as "one of most valuable archeological finds in the 20th century".[5] In 2006 experts noted that it is difficult to put a value on it, since there are few items of similar type being auctioned anywhere in the world.[6] One estimate from 2001 put the lowest value of the treasure at 50 million dollars;[7] a book published in 2005 put it at 100 million dollars.[8]

Highlights

The most valuable elements of the treasure include:

  • a gold woman's crown, which probably belonged to Blanche of Valois, first wife of the emperor Charles IV[1]
  • two gold pendants, dating to the 12th century[1]
  • two gold pendants, dating to the 13th century[1]
  • a medieval gold clasp decorated with precious stones
  • a ring with heads of dragons[1]
  • a ring with sapphire[1]
  • a ring with moon and star
  • 39 gold coins[1] (florin)
  • 2924[4] or 3924[1] (sources vary) silver coins (Prague groschen)

Gallery

  • Regional Museum in Środa Śląska, where the Środa treasure is located.
    Regional Museum in Środa Śląska, where the Środa treasure is located.
  • Florin from Środa treasure
    Florin
    from Środa treasure
  • Medieval gold pendant
    Medieval gold pendant
  • Prague groschen
    Prague groschen

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m (in Polish) Skarb Średzki - skarb "tysiąclecia", on the official pages of Polish Police, Środa Śląska Department, last retrieved on 15 December 2013
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i (in Polish) Historia odnalezienia Skarbu Średzkiego, official pages of the town, last retrieved on 7 July 2009
  3. ^ (in Polish) Report of an award to policemen involved in recovering part of the treasure, 25 April 2005
  4. ^ a b c (in Polish) Skarb Średzki, official pages of the town, last retrieved on 7 July 2009
  5. ^ (in Polish) Skarb Średzki, official pages of the Środa County, last retrieved on 7 July 2009
  6. ^ (in Polish) Olsztyn: Proces w sprawie Skarbu Tysiąclecia, 2006-03-28
  7. ^ (in Polish) Ludmiła Krzak, Przeklęty skarb, 22 May 2001
  8. ISBN 83-922160-0-8

Further reading

External links


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