Archaeologists from the Comenius Museum in Přerov, Czech Republic, recently unearthed a 1,000-year-old ice skate crafted from animal bone during their rescue excavations in the city’s Upper Square. [1280×1501]
Archaeologists from the Comenius Museum in Přerov, Czech Republic, recently unearthed a 1,000-year-old ice skate crafted from animal bone during their rescue excavations in the city’s Upper Square. [1280×1501]
The skate, likely made from the shinbone of a horse, was found amidst pottery fragments dating from the 10th or 11th century. This area, initially comprising several smaller settlements along the branches of the Bečva River, eventually evolved into a fortified square and fortress, under the reign of Polish King Boleslav the Brave.
According to Zdeněk Schenk, an archaeologist involved in the excavation, the skate’s design is both simple and ingenious. It features a curved shape with drilled holes, allowing for the attachment of a strap.
This strap would have secured the skate to a shoe or sled, enabling individuals to traverse frozen surfaces with relative ease. Rather than being used for leisurely skating, these bone skates served as essential tools for transportation and trade during harsh winter months.
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The skate, likely made from the shinbone of a horse, was found amidst pottery fragments dating from the 10th or 11th century. This area, initially comprising several smaller settlements along the branches of the Bečva River, eventually evolved into a fortified square and fortress, under the reign of Polish King Boleslav the Brave.
According to Zdeněk Schenk, an archaeologist involved in the excavation, the skate’s design is both simple and ingenious. It features a curved shape with drilled holes, allowing for the attachment of a strap.
This strap would have secured the skate to a shoe or sled, enabling individuals to traverse frozen surfaces with relative ease. Rather than being used for leisurely skating, these bone skates served as essential tools for transportation and trade during harsh winter months.