The Celtic sword with bronze hilt elements from Siarzewo, Nieszawa Commune, Kuyavian-Pomeranian voivodeship

A  sword with bronze pseudo-anthropomorphic hilt elements typical of the Middle La Tène was found in the Vistula River not far from the village of Siarzewo, Nieszawa commune, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. The scabbard was discarded and lost, but the sword is now in the Kujawy and Dobrzyń Land Museum in Włocławek. The hilt consists of three solid bronze elements: the guard, the tang ring, and the pommel. At present, these elements are separated by empty spaces which were previously covered with elements made from organic materials. The pommel and guard are decorated on the surface with three small circles with a point inside. The blade of the sword is also very interesting. The surface of the sword is covered with a chagrinage decoration. In the middle part of the blade, below the top part of the hilt end, a crescent-shaped, star-like stamp (punchmark) is located. Similar bronze hilts and hilt elements are more typical of Celtic daggers and short swords, hence a sword with these elements appearing a long way north of the main Celtic area is a major surprise and mystery.