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On display: March-May 2026
Location: Archaeological Museum in Poznań, 27 Wodna Street
Temporary Exhibition Room on the 1st floor
Curators: Bogdan Walkiewicz
Admission with a purchased ticket to the Museum
One of the most fascinating archaeological discoveries in Poland sets the stage for a story about early boats and the craft of building them. In 1983, archaeologists from the Archaeological Museum in Poznań uncovered something truly unique at an early medieval stronghold in Ląd on the Warta River: the remains of a clinker-built boat constructed on a T-shaped keel. Dendrochronological analysis revealed that it was built after 1125. To this day, it remains the only well-preserved inland find of its kind. Detailed models of the Ląd boat in 1:10 and 1:40 scale illustrate what this extraordinary vessel looked like.
The display also highlights the broader world of medieval navigation and shipbuilding across Europe, providing context for these remarkable finds. Early Slavic boats from Orunia and Puck are presented alongside iconic Viking ships such as those from Gokstad, Oseberg, and Skuldelev.
The journey continues with historic sailing vessels from the 16th to the 19th century, including the Yellow Lion, a ship that took part in the Battle of Oliwa in 1627. All models on view were carefully crafted by Bogdan Walkiewicz, curator at the Archaeological Museum in Poznań.
This presentation invites the visitors to take a closer look at traditional boatbuilding techniques, discover how these vessels were used, from transport and fishing to military expeditions, and better understand the vital role they played in the history of the region and Europe as a whole.
