ADVERTISEMENT Earlier this month, in the centre of Gdańsk, archaeologists from ArcheoScan discovered a tombstone with the image of a knight, dating back to the 13th century.
Two days later, about 30 cm under the stones, the perfectly preserved skeleton of a knight was unearthed.
The find was made at a cult site for the people of Gdańsk. It used to be a pub until 1962, after which it was relocated and the intersection of Sukiennicza and Grodzka Streets in Gdańsk became an area for large-scale archaeological work.
According to the official profile of the Pomeranian Regional Monument Conservator, this was not a “knight, but a real knight, as he was about 180 cm tall, according to a preliminary estimate.
However, according to archaeologists, the knight, who was around 40 years old at the time of his death, measured between 168 and 178 cm in height.
The Gdańsk Lancelot
The skeleton was quickly christened the ‘Danzig Lancelot’ by the public. Although Danzig was ruled by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century, there is now some speculation that the knight may have been related to the Sobieslaws, a dynasty that ruled the city in the 11th and 12th centuries.
According to archaeologists, the depiction of the knight on the tombstone (a figure in a chainmail with a sword on his right arm and a shield), suggests that he was a person of some repute. Being laid to rest under an expensive stone – Gotland limestone – suggest that he was not an “ordinary citizen”.
“Considering the value of the chainmail armour, the value of the sword and the very representation of the knight, who is upright, with his sword raised, makes it possible to guess that this was probably a commander or a person enjoying special recognition and respect,” – archaeologist Sylwia Kurzyńska told the Polish Press Agency.
Thorough examination of the remains will continue in order to better understand the history and origins of the knight.
Archaeological work in the centre of Gdańsk itself has been carried out since 2023. Recent discoveries include a Teutonic castle which existed in the area between 1335 and 1341, and was demolished by the inhabitants of Gdańsk in 1454.
A wooden church dating back to 1140 has also been found in the excavation area, as well as fragments of a compact building or city street.
