An extraordinary discovery in Krakow. A centuries-old signet ring was found in the ruins of Wawel.
A small brass ring hides more than you might think. Archaeologists from Wawel have just uncovered a secret that has been buried in the rubble for centuries. What do the letters IC say and who was the former owner of this lost treasure?
The Royal Castle on Wawel surprises again. During the renovation of the Władysław IV Bastion , in the rubble hidden inside the plinth of the Tadeusz Kościuszko monument, an object was found that aroused genuine enthusiasm among researchers. A small brass signet ring, dated to the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries , was noticed thanks to the vigilance of archaeologist Konrad Jurkowski from the Wawel Archaeology Department.
Signet ring found in Wawel/photo: Wawel Royal CastleTreasure discovered in Krakow. What do the letters on the signet ring mean?– An extremely interesting find – the castle employees emphasized on social media, not hiding their excitement about the discovery.
The signet ring delights with detail and intrigues with its form. The oval shield, on which a symbol resembling a gmerk – a personal mark of a craftsman – and the letters "IC" are engraved, seem to tell someone's personal story. Is this the signature of a former Krakow master? Or perhaps the initials of a nobleman who wore this signet ring among his daily duties?
The heraldic form of the shield, typical of German models , and the delicate grooves decorating the surface of the ring suggest that this was no ordinary trinket. It was a solid, personal product – perhaps passed down from generation to generation.
Wawel signet ring under the care of conservatorsThe archaeological work is supervised by a team led by Jerzy Trzebiński. Although the signet ring is just one of many discoveries, it has already become an icon of the Wawel research expedition. The monument was carefully secured and conserved by specialists from the Archaeological Monuments Conservation Workshop of the ZKnW. This is not the end of the story. - The signet ring will be scientifically developed in detail after the completion of work on the Władysław IV Bastion - experts announce.
well.pl
