European Days of Archaeology - lectures, meetings and workshops throughout Poland

The European Days of Archaeology (EDA) is a cyclical event initiated by the French National Institute of Archaeological Rescue Research (Inrap). Since 2010, it has been organized only in France, and since 2019 - throughout Europe. As part of the EDA, more than 1,000 events take place every year - on the third weekend of June. Independent archaeologists, research institutions, universities, museums, laboratories, associations, archives and local authorities are involved in the organization.

Poland is also seeing more and more attractions on the occasion of the EDA. This year's edition is part of the 1000th anniversary of the coronation of Bolesław the Brave, which is why the Museum of the First Piasts in Lednica (Wielkopolska) was chosen as the venue for the EDA inauguration. Ostrów Lednicki is a historical monument and one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. The relics of the early Piast stronghold and the palace-sacral complex are associated by many researchers with the baptism of Mieszko I. They are a key point in the story of the birth of Polish statehood.

The Archaeological Museum in Biskupin (Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship) will host talks on archery, horn-making and the history of money. At the reconstruction of the first archaeological excavation in today's defensive settlement on the peninsula, archaeologists will talk about the history of research at this site. Guided tours require prior registration, and clay modelling workshops are available for those interested.

In Warsaw, attractions have been prepared by, among others, the Royal Łazienki Museum, where you can take part in workshops, searching (with the help of ground-penetrating radar) for architectural remains or see the outdoor exhibition "Underground Secrets of the Royal Łazienki". In turn, the Royal Castle offers school youth workshops entitled "Documenting Monuments", showing the possibility of using modern measurement technologies in inventorying and documenting historic buildings. And on Saturday, an archaeological picnic with lectures and workshops on experimental archaeology will be held in Bródnowski Grodzisk. The reconstruction group will present historical reenactments, allowing you to observe old life and customs.

In Radom, the J. Malczewski Museum has prepared exhibitions, scientific sessions, archaeological workshops and picnics presenting the richness of archaeological heritage. During the three-day event, you will be able to see, among others, the exhibition "Archeo-Świat", which presents archaeology as a science in an accessible way and presents the most interesting archaeological monuments discovered in the vicinity of Radom.

The District Museum in Sieradz (Łódź Province) is organizing a workshop for children on Friday, "What should everyone know about archaeology?". Adults will be able to listen to lectures, e.g. by Jakub Sobka - about "The beginning of the end of heritage destruction. Introduction to the subject of non-invasive research in archaeology", Karolina Gawlik-Bąkowicz - about "Archaeology astray, or the search for monuments", and Dr. Marek Urbański - about the archaeology of the Sieradz region.

The Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum in Łódź will invite you on Saturday to the 4th Historical Reenactment in Tum "Chasing the Crown". In connection with the anniversary of the coronation of Bolesław the Brave falling this year, the event will bring closer the realities of life in the 11th century; there will be, among others, a knight's tournament, a horse riding show, fashion, a historical reenactment "Chasing the Crown", an early music concert, dance workshops.

On Monday, it will be possible to visit the castle in Łowicz with a guide; at 11 a.m. there will be a walk along Podrzeczna Street, combined with a presentation of the historical urban layout of the city, and then a visit to the crypts of the Łowicz cathedral with a lecture on the archaeological research conducted there.

The Museum of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn invites you to a Sunday lecture by Dr. Hab. Mirosław Hoffmann on archaeological research of the barrow necropolis in Bukwałd. The early Iron Age burial ground was discovered there in the 1870s, in connection with the planned construction of the Olsztyn-Braniewo railway line. Research into this site continues to this day. One of the barrows, with a diameter of 19 m and a height of up to 2.4 m, is the largest such object in the Olsztyn Lakeland. On Saturday, in the branches of this regional museum - i.e. the Museum of Upper Prussia in Morąg, the Museum in Mrągowo and the Masurian Museum in Szczytno - it will be possible to participate, among other things, in curatorial guided tours of exhibitions.

On Friday, the Bishop's Castle in Lidzbark Warmiński will host pottery workshops and a presentation presenting the history and results of archaeological research conducted since 1927 in the castle complex.

In Wrocław, a tour of the exhibition "Pobite poty. Ceramics without secrets" is planned at the Archaeologists' House museum - a branch of the University of Wrocław Museum. This is a presentation of unique exhibits from three continents, including monuments that are several thousand years old. In addition, there will be lectures and workshops.

Interesting events will also take place in Głogów, Wałbrzych, Jelenia Góra and Zgorzelec. These will include lectures given by archaeologists associated with museums or research institutes, as well as archaeological picnics. For example, in Zgorzelec, during the picnic, it will be possible to see reenactments of the baptism of Mieszko I or the coronation of Bolesław the Brave.

In the Pomeranian province, among other things, popular science presentations and speeches have been prepared in Gniew at the Archaeological Museum branch. "On Friday, you can listen to popular science presentations, mainly devoted to archaeological research in Kociewie, but also to more general topics, such as cooperation between archaeologists and anthropologists," said Marcin Fedoruk, head of the museum's promotion department. On Saturday, there will be family and outdoor attractions, including workshops, a historical performance, and a guided walk around historic Gniew. "You will be able to get a taste of archaeology while having fun and actively spending time," he added.

Fedoruk notes that many people are interested in archaeological discoveries. "Many have dreamed of becoming archaeologists. Thanks to EDA, people who are not professionally involved in archaeology can learn more about this science," he said. In his opinion, meetings with archaeologists are an opportunity to talk and discover the secrets of fieldwork, i.e. at excavations. "In turn, history buffs and local patriots can learn a lot about the past of the region, drawing knowledge from the results of archaeological research," he added.

In Bielsko-Biała, the Historical Museum has prepared attractions. On Saturday afternoon, there will be fieldwork presenting the current state of archaeological research of two of the most valuable cultural objects of Old Bielsko: the stronghold and the 14th-century church of St. Stanislaus the Bishop and Martyr. They will be led by Bożena and Bogusław Chorążów. On Sunday afternoon, Cezary Namirski will give a lecture at the castle of the Sułkowski princes, in which he will present non-invasive methods of archaeological research. They allow for the identification of archaeological sites and the reconstruction of elements of old landscapes.

A historical event for families will be held on the grounds of a former Slavic stronghold in Żmijowiska (Lubelskie). The program includes workshops on archery, jewelry, ceramics, as well as a walk with an ornithologist, guided tours and a bonfire - said Milena Jóźwik from the Museum of Old Slavs, which is a branch of the Nadwiślańskie Museum in Kazimierz Dolny. The workshops will be held on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The 4th Archaeological Film Review will be held at the archaeological base in Chodlik (Lubelskie), where a Slavic stronghold was located in the early Middle Ages. "We will show professional and amateur productions on archaeological topics, with an emphasis on the early Middle Ages and the beginnings of the Polish state. During the screenings, we will also present a paper on the latest research results in Chodlik and the funeral rites of the Slavs," announced Dr. Łukasz Miechowicz from the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The review will take place on Saturday from 12:00 to 19:00.

On the grounds of the former German extermination camp in Sobibór (Lubelskie) on Sunday at 12 noon a historical walk will begin with a presentation of the most important archaeological discoveries. "As a result of the research, traces of the most important post-camp facilities were discovered, especially the foundations of the gas chambers, the course of the road on which the SS men led the victims to their deaths, and the place where the prisoners' uprising of October 14, 1943 broke out," said Agnieszka Kowalczyk-Nowak, spokesperson for the State Museum at Majdanek. After the walk, participants will see an exhibition presenting the history of the camp and documenting the mechanisms of the crime of genocide.

At the National Museum in Lublin, from Friday to Sunday, there will be curatorial guided tours of the permanent archaeological exhibition, jewellery workshops for families with children and a walk through the most interesting archaeological discoveries in the city.

In the Podkarpacie region, five institutions have prepared exhibitions, lectures, guided walks, picnics and workshops. In the Archaeological Open-Air Museum in Trzcinica, there will be, among other things, a meeting with Jan Garncarski, the creator of the Carpathian Troy, who conducted research in this area. The program also includes activities for children in an archaeological excavation specially prepared for this occasion. In the Regional Repository of Archaeological Monuments in Zgłobnie, a branch of the Rzeszów District Museum, there will be an exhibition of the most interesting exhibits found in the Boguchwała commune. In addition - a presentation of everyday objects from the Iron Age, weapons and armaments, ornaments and jewellery techniques of non-ferrous metals; it will also be possible to see the process of making coins, wool and linen yarn and what can be woven on a needle.

The National Museum of the Przemyśl Region is proposing a popular science session devoted to one of the most important local archaeological discoveries – the Old Magyar cemetery. A team of specialists in archaeology, geomorphology and genetics will recall the older and present the latest results of interdisciplinary research on this site. There will also be an afternoon walk along the trail of the most interesting monuments of Przemyśl. The Museum in Jarosław The Orsettich Tenement House will return to the beginnings of the formation of the Polish-Russian border in the Middle Ages. It will also be possible to see the latest finds of medieval axes from the vicinity of Jarosław and take a guided walk around the old town of Jarosław.

In turn, the Kresy Museum in Lubaczów encourages, among other things, participation in a historical role-playing game that will take participants to the early 16th century to follow the preparations for the wedding of Piotr Chodecki - brother of Stanisław Chodecki, Grand Marshal of the Crown and starost of Lubaczów. There will also be workshops on creating royal insignia and calligraphy classes, a visit to the church in Nowe Brusno and a walk along an educational path leading through places related to the tradition of Brusno stonemasonry.

In the Lubuskie province, the Kostrzyn nad Odrą Fortress Museum has joined the EDA celebrations. As Krzysztof Socha, a local archaeology specialist, told PAP, on Friday, the premiere of a short documentary entitled "Where the Earth Gives Birth to Pots" is scheduled on the museum's YouTube channel, made during archaeological research in Górzyca. Its author is Paweł Ilnicki from High Point Studio from Nowa Sól. During the weekend (June 14-15), you can visit the exhibition entitled "Where the Earth Gives Birth to Pots... Górzyca before the establishment of the Lubuskie diocese" free of charge in the Berlin Gate of the Kostrzyn fortress. "It is not only a collection of unique objects, but above all a story about people who lived on these lands thousands of years ago. We encourage you to visit it and discover fascinating stories captured in clay," Socha told PAP.

The Archaeological Museum of the Middle Oder in Zielona Góra, based in Świdnica, has prepared workshops for children entitled "Discoverers of the Past". They will take place in the museum park on Friday (June 13) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The museum staff will introduce the youngest to the work of an archaeologist, show them what field research looks like and what happens to monuments after they are found. "Participants in the workshops will be able to see the work of an archaeologist from the inside, they will also learn what experimental archaeology is and how it helps scientists discover and reconstruct the human past," said Aneta Bogacka from the education and promotion department of the museum in Świdnica.

In the Archaeological Reserve in Kalisz-Zawodzie (Greater Poland), you will be able to talk to experts, see how contemporary archaeology is changing and visit a medieval stronghold. On Saturday and Sunday, two archaeologists will meet with residents - Mateusz Romański, curator of the collections of the Archaeology Department of the Kalisz District Museum and Wojciech Rutkowski from the University of Lodz. The first will tell visitors about underwater archaeology. Listeners will be able to learn about underwater research methods, see the equipment used and learn how underwater research complements terrestrial archaeology. Wojciech Rutkowski will give two lectures on the Przeworsk culture in central Poland and eastern Greater Poland and on the metallurgy of the Przeworsk culture in the Roman period.

A series of events popularizing archaeological research and the history of the region is organized by the Archaeology Department of the Silesian Museum in Katowice. On Friday, a film about a 3,700-year-old settlement in Maszkowice, a curatorial tour of the "Zyndram's Hill" exhibition and a tour of the museum's archaeological workshops are planned in Katowice. At the same time, excavations are underway in Wojkowice at a settlement site of the Przeworsk culture from the 3rd-4th century, with the possibility of observing the work of archaeologists. During the weekend (14-15 June), the Silesian Museum invites you to "archaeology from the inside" shows - presentations of the daily work of archaeologists in the processing of monuments from excavations, including materials from the Celtic settlement in Samborowice.

On June 14, the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom will host the lecture "Power and Divinity in the Insignia of Power of the Ancient World (Part I)" and "Crowns of the Rulers of Europe and the Christian East – from Ritual to Legend (Part II)". The lecture is led by Dr. Jarosław Święcicki and Dr. Ewelina Imiołczyk. The lecture covers insignia of power in ancient cultures such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, Nubia, Persia, Greece and Rome, as well as medieval symbols of power in Europe and the Christian East.

After the lecture, family workshops "Make your crown - the insignia of your power" will be held. Participants will be able to make their own replica of the insignia of power: the crown of the Brave, the Bronze Age diadem from Przeczyce, the Mesopotamian tiara with horns, and design their own crown and coat of arms.

The Podlasie Museum invites you to two towns this weekend - Podsupraśl and Tykocin. On Saturday, a field walk through the Supraśl Valley will set off from Podsupraśl to one of the oldest ritual sites in northeastern Poland with archaeologist Adam Wawrusiewicz. The museum reminds us that a few years ago, on one of the small mineral islands located in the middle of the Supraśl Valley, discoveries were made that changed the perception of the past. Objects from around 4.5 thousand years ago were found there - stone daggers, flint arrowheads, amber ornaments, fragments of vessels and symbolic pendants belonging to the people who migrated through the river valley and came from distant areas of Western and Southwestern Europe.

In Tykocin, the local branch of the Podlasie Museum invites you to two events. On Saturday, there will be a lecture on the late medieval Bernardine monastery founded by Marcin Gasztołd. During the lecture, non-invasive archaeological research will be presented, which allowed for the reconstruction of the approximate dimensions of the four wings of the monastery. As the museum emphasizes, this monastery was the first brick building in Tykocin, the third monastery of the Franciscan Observant Order in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The second event - on Sunday - is an archaeological walk around Tykocin, one of the most important urban centers - as the museum writes - of the archaeological heritage of today's Podlasie.

The list of events within the EDA can be checked on the website. (PAP)

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