History could be right in your own backyard.

This was the case for a mother and her baby who were gardening in the town of Józefów, Poland. 

While gardening in May, they stumbled upon a peculiar object. Intrigued by their find, they brought it to the Mazowiecki Wojewódzki Konserwator Zabytków (Masovian Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments) for further investigation.

Upon closer examination, the object was identified as an ax from the Neolithic period, also known as the New Stone Age, dating back over 4,000 years, according to a May 25 statement from the Masovian Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments. 

After its identification, the artifact was transferred to the Voivodic Monument Protection Office in Warsaw, according to the Facebook post. 

In a subsequent post shared on June 4, the family who discovered the artifact was presented with a certificate as a token of appreciation. 

The post features a photo of the family, including the baby, in which the woman who found the object is holding the certificate they received.

“We encourage you to follow the model attitude of our guests,” the translated Facebook post stated. 

This incident marks another instance where individuals have unexpectedly unearthed objects of significant historical value. 

A similar occurrence took place in 2022, when a mother and son were walking their dog in Pagham, England. 

The 12-year-old boy and his mother came across an item during their walk, which they brought to a local finds liaison officer and was later confirmed to be a piece of Roman military jewelry dating back to the first century A.D. 

The ancient find was deemed a “relatively rare” discovery and was taken to the Novium Museum in Chichester, England, once its value was recognized. 

Furthermore, in April 2024, it was reported that a retired geologist claimed to have unearthed more than 2,500 artifacts in Somerset, England. 

The artifacts discovered by Andrew Beckly included blades and axes and were found beneath his lawn, according to British news service SWNS. 

The retired geologist came across these finds by digging through the soil in his backyard.