Military to help excavate 17th century Vistula treasures

Varsovians walk across the River Vistula: photo - PAP/Tomasz Gzell

Soldiers of the 2nd Sappers' Regiment from Kazun are expected to begin work on Friday, and an on-site inspection has already been carried out.

“The amphibious vehicles which the army has are highly prized,” said Dr Hubert Kowalski from Warsaw University's Institute of Archaeology, in an interview with the Polish Press Agency.

“In certain places here there is a depth of two metres, in others one-and-a-half, in others it is simply a beach,” he said.

As thenews.pl reported last week, the low water levels have exposed a trove of architectural treasures.

It is believed that the relics were taken up the river as loot by invading Swedish forces during the so-called Deluge (Potop) of 1655-1660.

Polish nobles remarked in later years that not a silver spoon was left in manor houses across the land after the invaders pulled out of the country.

However, not all of the booty made it safely to Gdansk, where it was due to transported over the Baltic to Sweden.

Among the items still due to be extracted is an elaborate fountain that had been submerged for several hundred years.

Dr Kowalski also stressed that the sappers would be indispensable in dealing with explosive material from the 2nd World War that was cropping up on the riverbed.

Since Tuesday, eight examples of such material have been discovered. (nh)