Molotkov recalls that as a boy, he often swam in the Pronya and would find broken pots on the riverbed, which locals referred to as «chugunki» (cast-iron pots). This past July, he stumbled upon a similar vessel, but this one was remarkably large and nearly intact. Once he hauled the find ashore, he realized its immense age. Following the advice of Alexander Pishchalo, a local historian from Zhlobin, Molotkov contacted archaeologists, and the pot was handed over to the Institute of History at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. 

In late August, an expedition from the Institute arrived at the discovery site. Researchers determined that the vessel had been resting in a pit up to three meters deep, buried beneath a tangle of logs. 

According to Oleg Voronko, a researcher at the Institute, the handcrafted pot is in near-pristine condition and dates back to the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age. Such artifacts are exceedingly rare, with only a handful known to exist across the country. Typically, excavations yield mere fragments, making it exceptionally rare for archaeologists to reconstruct a complete vessel.