Metal detectorist stumbles on 250-year-old artifact linked to a pope, photos show
With various plants, small animals and easy-to-trip-on obstacles, forest floors usually have a few surprises. But a forest in Poland hid a particularly unique — and particularly old — surprise.
Wojciech Werus was using a metal detector to search a forest in Siennica Różana when he stumbled on a small dirt-covered disc, according to an April 24 Facebook post from the Lublin Provincial Conservator of Monuments and TikTok video from the finder.
Werus immediately recognized the object as a lead seal from an 18th century pope, according to the April 21 TikTok video from the Historical and Exploration Association Wolica.
Officials confirmed his identification, describing the small artifact as a 250-year-old lead seal, or bulla, from a papal bull.
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A bulla was a lead seal used on official documents issued by popes of the Roman Catholic Church, according to Britannica. During medieval times, these documents became known as papal bulls because of their bulla seals.
The 250-year-old seal is very well preserved, officials said. On one side are the faces of Saint Peter and Saint Paul with a cross in the center. On the other side is the name of Pope Benedict XIV.
The unique seal was issued by Pope Benedict XIV and dates between 1740 to 1758, officials said. It was originally attached by string to a document.
Only about a dozen papal bulla seals have been found in Poland, and each one is unique, McClatchy News reported previously.
The 250-year-old seal measures about 1.5 inches across and weighs about 2 ounces, monument officials said.
The Historical and Exploration Association Wolica described it as very interesting and very well preserved in an April 21 Facebook post.
Officials plan to give the 250-year-old artifact to the Regional Museum in Krasnystaw.
Siennica Różana is a village in eastern Poland, a roughly 150-mile drive southeast of Warsaw and near the border with Ukraine.
Google Translate was used to translate the Facebook post from the Lublin Provincial Conservator of Monuments as well as the Facebook post and TikTok video from the Historical and Exploration Association Wolica.
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