Medieval St. Peter an der Sperr church, Wiener Neustadt.

An Austrian man digging a pond in his back garden may have stumbled across jewellery commissioned for a royal court, according to Vienna's Federal Office for Memorials. 

Experts have pin-pointed that the site, a little south of Vienna in the town of Wiener Neustadt, is just a hundred metres away from an ancient trading route that linked Poland with Italy.

The exquisite jewellery - which has been valued at 100,000 euros – is believed to have been fashioned between 1250 and 1350 AD.

Pieces from the collection were revealed to journalists last week at Vienna's Department for National Antiquities.

Curiously enough, the hoard was initially discovered in 2007. However, the man, who wishes to remain anonymous, did not report the find to the authorities immediately.

Two years later, when clearing out his house in preparation for a move, he rediscovered the mud-caked pieces, and decided to take the matter further.

Once cleaned by expert hands, it transpired that the treasures included a brooch set with pearls and coral, crockery fashioned from gold plate and some two hundred rings.

Why the treasure was abandoned by the roadside will probably remain a mystery. Was foul play involved?

Likewise, it is nigh on impossible to confirm who the jewels were destined for, be it Poles, Germans, Italians or others.

For much over the 13th century, Poland was divided into five principalities. The country was ultimately reunited by Wladyslaw I – also known as “the Elbow-High” - who was crowned in Krakow in 1320. (nh)