A hoard of thirty-five amber amulets shaped like stylized sun-wheels has been found near the banks of the Vistula River in Poland. Dating to the late Iron Age, these artifacts were found alongside charred remains of oak logs, pointing to the site of an ancient ritual bonfire. Researchers believe this find provides concrete evidence for the prehistoric precursors to the Slavic Kupala Night, a summer solstice festival celebrated with fire and water.
The amulets feature wear patterns suggesting they were worn during vigorous movement, possibly ceremonial dancing. This discovery highlights the long-term continuity of solar worship in Central Europe and suggests that the specific iconography of the sun-wheel played a central role in the communal identity of the tribes inhabiting the region long before the formalization of Slavic mythology.