News
On display: 06 December 2024 - 31 January 2025
Exhibition curator: Mateusz Sikora
The Archaeological Museum in Poznań is displaying a remarkable lead text amulet from the collection of the District Museum in Konin. This unique find was unearthed in 2018 during excavations carried out by the museum in collaboration with Stowarzyszenie Współpracy Polska-Wschód in the village of Rękawczyn in Greater Poland.
The artefact was discovered on the eastern slope of a hill, roughly 50 metres from the site of a 14th-century church dedicated to Saint Lawrence and its adjoining cemetery. It is believed that the plate was accidentally ploughed up from a grave during the levelling of the hill. At the time of discovery, the amulet was a small lead plate folded into a compact cube measuring around 2x2 cm. When unfolded, the plate takes on a near-rectangular shape, measuring 69x38 mm, with a thickness of 0.5 mm and a weight of 8.5 g.
Both sides of the plate are covered with finely engraved writing, created using a sharp tool. The text is arranged along the longer axis of the plate and divided into 12 lines on each side (24 lines in total). Each line is underlined with a horizontal stroke, which often overlaps the letters. The script's morphological characteristics are consistent with writing from the latter half of the 14th century, a timeframe attributed to the amulet’s production.
Medieval lead text amulets like this were used as talismans, thought to offer protection from evil, illness, or malevolent spirits. They were typically made by educated clergy, tailored to the individual requests of the faithful. Such amulets frequently featured prayers, magical formulas, or religious symbols like crosses, Christograms (e.g., “IHS”), or depictions of saints. Some also contained protective spells or charms intended to bring good fortune. These amulets were usually worn close to the body, often around the neck in a small pouch, and were believed to possess healing properties.
These artefacts provide a fascinating glimpse into religious syncretism, blending Christian beliefs with older magical traditions. The Rękawczyn amulet is the first of its kind to be discovered in Poland, making it a truly unique example of regional heritage. It serves as evidence of the widespread medieval Christian practices in Central Europe that merged protective or healing functions with remnants of ancient pagan traditions.
