In a fascinating discovery, a winged ‘basilisk’ adorning a medieval pilgrim’s badge has been unearthed in Poland. While these badges were commonplace among Christian pilgrims during the Middle Ages, the symbolism behind the basilisk remains enigmatic, prompting further exploration into its significance and role in the pilgrimage tradition.

A “pilgrim badge” from the Middle Ages featuring the design of a basilisk — a fearsome mythological creature akin to a dragon — has been discovered in southeast Poland. Such finds are rare and can help archaeologists chart the routes taken by Christian pilgrims hundreds of years ago.

Independent archaeologist Tomasz Murzyński, who’s based in the Polish city of Wrocław, told Live Science in an email that a metal detectorist found the badge in January in the village of Wólka Nieliska, about 130 miles (210 kilometers) southeast of Warsaw. The detectorist then gave it to Murzyński.

Medieval Christian pilgrims often wore badges like this to show that they had visited or were journeying to a particular holy place, and they were thought to protect the wearer from diseases, accidents and crimes during their travels, the post said.

The badges were also a way for pilgrims to distinguish themselves, and some pilgrims displayed several badges on their clothing.

The Facebook post noted that several medieval pilgrim badges have been found elsewhere in Poland — including six from the northwestern city of Stargard — and that large collections of such badges are now held in museums throughout Western Europe.

Pilgrim badges typically portrayed various shapes — such as spirals, squares, crosses or shields — but some also featured figures of particular saints, knights and animals, the post said.