The only 10 c. Face carvings found in Poland –

The unique 10th-century structural beams engraved with facial images have been recovered from the Lednica Lake in central and western Poland. Dendrosonological Analysis has found that the tree used to make beams be cut between 960 and 975 AD, a period when faces used as decorative elements are very rare. This is a similar artifact discovered in Poland in the early Middle Ages.

The object is an oak beam of 1.34 meters (4.4 feet) with a face engraved at one end. This is a BAS relief of about 13.5 x 10 cm (5.3 x 4 inches) with a deep curved groove above the forehead, which combines with the circular base of the beam under the chin, giving the face shape an oval shape.

The wood was discovered last year as part of the huge defensive walls of Ostrów Lednicki. Four years ago, wood elements surfaced on the coast of Lake Lednica after the dry summer caused unusually low water levels. Over the next four years, archaeologists discovered the remains of 10th-century fortifications that collapsed and were preserved in a lake.

The beam of light that carved the face is one of four hooks found. The hooks are used to secure the wall-type devices together to prevent pressure from filling from soil. This is the only one who carved the face, despite the huge damage to the wooden elements of the city walls, that other carvings may have initially existed, were lost.

Konrad Lewek from the Underwater Archaeology Center highlights the uniqueness of the discovery, noting that researchers believe faces are likely to represent figures in the spiritual world. He added that this type of art might have been more popular among the Slavic people of the time than the limited archaeological discoveries so far.

According to the researchers, the discovered facial images are stylistically reminiscent of small wooden statues with anthropomorphic representations. The lake element may resemble the artifacts found in Walling, including four-sided images. Researchers do not rule out that the LEDNICA discovery may suggest a belief that the lake is inhabited by various organisms. The face found was turned outside the stronghold and towards the water.

The beam is still being protected and stable to ensure it does not dry out once it has been removed from the lake. Once the conservation is completed, the engraving will be on display at the First Day Dynasty Museum in Lednica, possibly in the second half of 2026.