The sword came to light during a legal metal-detecting survey in the Gdańsk Forest District. Experienced detectorist Marcin Wiśniewski spotted the object standing upright in sandy soil. Instead of removing the weapon, he realized the site might contain important archaeological evidence. He marked and protected the location, then reported the find to heritage authorities and local forestry officials.
Archaeologists later excavated the area using standard field methods. They carefully recorded the sword’s exact position before lifting it from the ground. No other artifacts were found nearby, though researchers say the weapon’s original placement still holds valuable information. The upright position suggests the sword was deliberately deposited rather than accidentally lost.