Archaeologists in Prague, Czech Republic, made an extraordinary discovery during a routine excavation. Beneath the city's Upper Square, they unearthed 1,000-year-old ice skates made from animal bones.
This relic, housed at the Comenius Museum, is believed to be from the 10th or 11th century. Experts suspect it was fashioned from a horse's shin bone, based on its distinctive shape. Zdeněk Schenk, an archaeologist at the museum, described the skate's design: “One end curves into a point with a hole drilled through it, while another hole sits at the back. These holes likely served to thread straps for attaching the skate to footwear or a wooden sled.”
The age of the skate was determined by surrounding pottery shards, dating to the latter half of the 10th century and the early 11th century. This period coincided with a significant fortress on the Upper Square, a stronghold for Polish King Boleslav the Brave's stationed soldiers.
Unlike their modern counterparts used for recreation, these ancient blades served a more practical purpose, explains Schenk. “People back then wouldn't have used them for leisure skating,” he clarifies. “Instead, they'd shuffle across frozen surfaces with the aid of sticks, or even attach them to sleds for transporting goods over ice.”
This isn't Přerov's first encounter with such artifacts. A similar skate was unearthed in 2009, and others have surfaced throughout the city over time. Schenk attributes this prevalence to Přerov's historical location. “The Upper Square sits on a hill overlooking the Bečva River,” he explains. “In those times, settlements clustered along the river's branches, making winter travel on the frozen water a necessity.”
Schenk emphasizes that Přerov isn't alone in these discoveries. “Similar ‘ice skates' made from cattle or horse bones have been found across Europe, particularly in Central and northwestern regions like Scandinavia. Interestingly, many of these finds date to the 10th century and often appear in Viking settlements.”
This unearthed treasure offers a glimpse into the ingenuity and resourcefulness of past civilizations, highlighting how they adapted tools for navigating harsh winter conditions.
Source: Radio Prague International