Paweł Konczewski | Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy we Wrocławiu (original) (raw)
Papers by Paweł Konczewski
ANTHROPOLOGICAL REVIEW, 2023
Libkovice is a village in the northwestern Czech Republic that was demolished at the end of the l... more Libkovice is a village in the northwestern Czech Republic that was demolished at the end of the last century due to the expansion of a nearby mine. The former church cemetery has been a subject to bioarchaeological excavation and research, where some 850 burials from the 13 th to the 19 th Century have been discovered so far. With the application of stable isotope analysis, it has also been possible to uncover the dietary patterns of this exemplary rural Central European community, which was the aim of this study. The materials analysed here consist of samples from long bones of 56 burials and 18 animal bones discovered in Libkovice during the 2019/21 excavations. It has been employed stable carbon (δ 13 C) isotope analysis to determine the average contributions of foods derived from the C3 plants. Statistically significant differences were found between the analyzed fauna and human samples for nitrogen (F=47.4 p<0.05) and carbon (F=19.18 p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the analyzed animal and human samples between the specify centuries. When considering the ages of various human individuals, the results indicated statistically significant differences in nitrogen isotopes (F= 7.71 p<0.05) between children from the infants I group and older children together with adults from the Middle Ages, as well as between children from the infants I group and adults (F= 3.3, p<0.05) from the modern times. The proportion of food from C3 plants that made up the diets of the studied population was on average 89%, and the potential proportion of freshwater fish in the diet could be higher than 80%. The similarity between the chronologically diverse groups may indicate similar strategies for food acquisition. The results obtained for the population of Libkovice are very similar to the diets of the populations living in Central Europe broadly during the two periods.
International Journal of Historical Archaeology, 2024
This article presents the discovery in Ruszów (German: Rauscha, today in Poland) of 103 stone epi... more This article presents the discovery in Ruszów (German: Rauscha, today in Poland) of 103 stone epitaphs from a demolished monument commemorating the inhabitants of this village-German soldiers who died during World War I. After World War II, Poland received part of Germany's territory in exchange for lands lost to the Soviet Union. Forced deportations followed the change of borders. Polish displaced persons in the new territories found a foreign cultural heritage, which they often treated as hostile-due to the vivid memories of the German occupation. In such circumstances, the monument in Ruszów was destroyed. The village inhabitants remembered this and decided to change it by initiating community archaeology to research the monument's relics. The universal right to remember the dead, which, in their opinion was violated in the act of destroying the monument, was the motivation for their actions. It prompted the scientists helping them to reflect on the various aspects of community archaeology.
Acta Militaria Mediaevalia XVIII, 2022
The paper discusses a discovery of a Type Immenstedt stirrup, which is unique in Poland. The arte... more The paper discusses a discovery of a Type Immenstedt stirrup, which is unique in Poland. The artefact was incidentally found in the course of ground works near a road in the locality of Choiniec-Czaple in Lower Silesia. On the basis of analogies to discoveries from Scandinavia, Germany, Austria and other sites in Europe, and also taking the find context into consideration, th th the stirrup can be dated to the late 8 or the first half of the 9 century. In this period, it came to an intensification of contacts of Slavic communities in Lower Silesia with the Franks.
Sylwan 166 (4), 2022
Puszcza Zgorzelecka (The Zgorzelec Wilderness) is part of Bory Dolnośląskie (the Lower Silesian W... more Puszcza Zgorzelecka (The Zgorzelec Wilderness) is part of Bory Dolnośląskie (the Lower Silesian Wilderness), one of the largest forest complexes in Central Europe, located in south− western Poland. Thousands of years of interaction between man and the environment have led to the formation of unique cultural and natural heritage, to this day leaving traces within the landscape. This heritage has been studied as part of an interdisciplinary archaeological research project that began in 2014. The deserted village of Tormersdorf, located by the Lusatian Neisse at the Polish−German border, is the central point of the study area. In total, 26 archaeological sites dating from the Mesolithic to the Second World War have been identified, 19 of which are covered by the forest. The forest's vegetation and the idea of preventive conservation of the environment have channelled the research process into the application of non−destructive methods of archaeological survey, complemented by the highest possible reduction of excava− tions and extended to include environmental studies. The content of this paper presents the methods and selected results of the project, a description of difficulties faced in its course, as well as thoughts on the scientific potential of forest heritage.
Broszura promocyjna projektu 1000 lat Górnych Łużyc, 2021
Architectus 4 (68), 2021
Thanatourism is a concept involving travel to sites associated with death and suffering. It is no... more Thanatourism is a concept involving travel to sites associated with death and suffering. It is not a cult of death, but merely a form of tourism aimed
at discovering places of human tragedy. Grodno Castle is a popular destination of thanatourists, as it features specific forms of attractions, namely a starvation dungeon with a displayed skeleton, a torture chamber, and burial crypts of the previous owners. The article discusses the phenomenon of the growing attractiveness of thanatourist places. Secondly, it presents the results of a study of human bone remains found in the starvation dungeon of Grodno Castle. The assumption was that the bone material could belong to the heroine of the legend of Princess Margaret (i.e. it could have been artificially assembled for the purposes of the exhibition) or it could come from the tombs of the last owners of the castle. An anthropological analysis was carried out, involving determination of the sex, age and other parameters, and appropriate measurements were taken. The analysis of the material showed that the remains belonged to at least three individuals of different ages, and both sexes (young woman, 19–22 years old; adult male, over 35 years old; mature woman, 45–55 years old). Most likely, some of the examined bones used to make up a displayed skeleton in the past. The
article also presents findings of a survey conducted among tourists at Grodno Castle, concerning their characteristics, as well as their motivations for visiting. According to our findings, Grodno Castle is mostly visited by women aged 35–44 with higher education, who live within 100 km from the castle. The main motivations for their visit are their interests in the past and the opportunity to tour the castle. The most frequent feelings expressed by the tourists during their visit were curiosity and enjoyment. Thanatological elements did not attract much attention. The lookout tower turned out to be the best tourist attraction. The exhibitions of human remains, coffins and the torture chamber mostly aroused curiosity, compassion and sadness among the visitors.
Architectus, 4 (68), 2021
Although Grodno Castle (Kynsburg), located in the southern part of the Wałbrzyskie Mountains, due... more Although Grodno Castle (Kynsburg), located in the southern part of the Wałbrzyskie Mountains, due to its turbulent history has been popular since the 19th century, this fact has never translated into the level of advancement of the scientific studies devoted to it. Until recently, scientific research, especially excavations, was carried out to a very limited extent. The aim of the article is to present and discuss the results of archaeological research conducted in 2017–2019 and its correlation with the knowledge provided to us by written sources. For this purpose, the most important historical events related to the functioning of Grodno Castle are briefly discussed. Then, the results of analyzes of the nature and relative chronology of the stratigraphic layers forming the embankment located on the castle zwinger and lying in the courtyard of the upper castle are presented, along with summarizing the conclusions of the typological, morphological, chronological and comparative analyzes of the archaeological finds discovered during the excavations. As a result of these activities, in the case of the layers forming the embankment located on the zwinger, 6 phases of anthropogenic activity were distinguished, which were related to historical events, and an image of the material culture of the castle inhabitants and the changes taking place in it over more than seven centuries were obtained.
PLOSE ONE , 2021
During archaeological excavations in burial sites, sometimes stoned organic objects are found, in... more During archaeological excavations in burial sites, sometimes stoned organic objects are found, in addition to human remains. Those objects might be of a different origin, depending on various factors influencing members of a community (i.e. diseases, trauma), which provides information about their living conditions. The St. Nicholas Church archaeological site (Libkovice, Czechia) in the 18 th century horizon of the cemetery, yielded a maturus-senilis female skeleton with a stone object in the left iliac fossa. This object was an oviform cyst-like rough structure, measuring 54 mm in length, 35 mm in maximum diameter and 0.2-0.7 mm shell thickness. Within the object there were small fetal bones (long bones, i.e. femur and two tibias, two scapulas, three ribs, vertebrae and other tiny bone fragments). Methods utilized to analyze the outer and inner surface morphology of the cyst and its inside, included: X-ray, CT imaging, SEM, histological staining and EDS. The EDS analysis revealed the presence of primarily oxygen, calcium and phosphorus in bone samples, and oxygen and silicon, in stone shell. Based on the length of the femur (20.2 mm) and tibia (16 mm) shafts, the fetal age was determined as being in the 15-18 week of pregnancy. The differential diagnosis was conducted, including for the three most probable cases: fetiform teratoma (FT), fetus-in-fetu (FIF) and lithopedion. The possibility of fetiform teratoma was discounted due to the presence of an anatomically correct spine, long bones and the proportions of the find. Although the low calcium content in the shell (2.3% atom mass), the lack of skull bones and the better developed lower limbs indicate fetus-in-fetu rather than lithopedion, the analyses results are unable to conclusively identify the object under one of these two categories since there are insufficient such cases in excavation material with which to draw comparison.
Archeologia Polski, 2021
Archaeological excavation in the marketplace of Wiązów (Strzelin district) in 1992 and again in 2... more Archaeological excavation in the marketplace of Wiązów (Strzelin district) in 1992 and again in 2018 uncovered the relics of a small cemetery consisting of at least three inhumation burials. These were identified as burials of members of the local Celtic community from the early La Tène period, as indicated by certain features of the graves. Some of the personal adornments found with the skeletons were produced probably in workshops active at the time in the central part of the Bohemian Basin. The location of the graves on the fringes of the La Tène culture settlement is also of interest.
KONSERWACJA ZAPOBIEGAWCZA ŚRODOWISKA 5. DZIEDZICTWO MILITARNE, 2017
The Zgorzelec Wilderness (Görlitzer Heide) is located in southwestern Poland. It stretches betwee... more The Zgorzelec Wilderness (Görlitzer Heide) is located in southwestern Poland. It stretches between the river Neisse, which
is the Polish-German border, and the river Czerna Wielka.
It is part of the Lower Silesian Wilderness – one of the largest forests in the Central European Lowlands. The Zgorzelec
Wilderness from the late Middle Ages to the first half of the
twentieth century was the property of the nearby Zgorzelec
(Görlitz) town. The armed conflicts which took place in this part
of Europe were in breach of existence of human communities
living in it. The remains of war preserved in the western part
of the Zgorzelec Forest are currently the subject of research
conducted within the project «Residents, culture and natural
environment of Upper Lusatia as an example of research of
micro-regions settlement Tormersdorf / Toporów». The project is implemented in the Department of Anthropology at the
University of Life Sciences in Wrocław by an interdisciplinary
research team, composed of anthropologists, archaeologists,
botanist and zoologist. Research is conducted in collaboration
with the company National Forests, Forest District Ruszów –
hosted the study area.
The central point of the study area is ruined Prędocice
(Tormersdorf) village, also known as Toporów, located on the
western edge of the forest. The village was founded in the
fourteenth century, and existed till the spring of 1945. With
its history are related to episodes of two major conflicts: the
Napoleonic Wars and World War II.
Wieś zaginiona Wspólnota, samorządność, przestrzeń, 2020
650 years ago, members of the Upper Lusatian League burned the city of Nowoszów, along with the c... more 650 years ago, members of the Upper Lusatian League burned the city of Nowoszów, along with the castle Neuhaus built by Duke Bolko II. Apparently, the traces of it were still visible in the last century, but the knowledge about its location has not survived to the present day.
Using basic research methods, such as querying and analyzing of archives and literature, analyzing LiDAR data, surface survey, excavations, artefacts‘ chronological and formal analysis, and geophysical survey, the site has been thoroughly examined.
As a result of the conducted activities, the usefulness of individual research methods was verified, the layout of the village and functions of some buildings were recognized, and probably the court of Bolko II was located.
Archeologia Żywa, 2020
Milczanie to jedna ze wspólnot etnolingwistycznych (plemion) wczesnośredniowiecznej Słowiańszczyz... more Milczanie to jedna ze wspólnot etnolingwistycznych (plemion) wczesnośredniowiecznej Słowiańszczyzny Zachodniej, której nazwa pojawiła się po raz pierwszy u tzw. Geografa Bawarskiego w połowie IX w., a zniknęła z kart historii w XII w. Co działo się w międzyczasie? Jak
wyglądało życie Milczan? Odpowiedzi na te pytania poszukują naukowcy zaangażowani w realizację projektu „1000 lat Górnych Łużyc – ludzie, grody, miasta”.
Śląskie Sprawozdania Archeologiczne, 2018
Castles were centres of the socio-economic life. In the last centuries castles were gradually dis... more Castles were centres of the socio-economic life. In the last centuries castles were gradually disappearing from the landscape of Central Europe. It was mostly due to changes in a social order, but also because of natural disasters which happened during that time. In few cases this happened so suddenly and fully that today we even can’t point out their approximate location. This is especially true for castles functioning between 14th and 16th century in the Zgorzelec Wilderness (south-west Poland), in places known nowadays as Prędocice, Nowoszów, Pieńsk and Piaseczna. To identify castles’ oikumenes authors decided to re-analyse known historical evidences and execute a field research. The latter one was targeted to recognize not only cultural heritage such as ruins of buildings or earthworks, but also changes in the natural environment, such as biotope’s transformations. As a result of dual humanistic-environmental studies remains of a medieval building were found in Nowoszów. They were assumed to be vestiges of the castle’s oikumene, maybe a tower house, functioning at the manmade isle on the Czerna Wielka river. The other result of the research was identifying other artificial islands, in these cases, on the Lusatian Neisse river that with a big probability contain remains of castles in Prędocice and Pieńsk. Castles in the Zgorzelec Wilderness didn’t deviate from other structures of this type and were built in naturally defensive locations. River valleys’ neckings and natural elevations within river fluvial valleys were accordingly transformed to better serve its purposes. Rivers and streams in addition were used as an economic base, for example to power hammer forges. A natural environment’s transformations caused by castles’ inhabitants were so vast, that these changes dated back to Late Middle Ages and Early Modern Period to this day are clearly visible in ecosystems of the Zgorzelec Wilderness.
Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt, 2018
In the course of rescue excavations at a multicultural site in Siechnice (pow. Wrocław / PL), an ... more In the course of rescue excavations at a multicultural site in Siechnice (pow. Wrocław / PL), an isolated younger Pre-Roman
Iron Age Przeworsk culture burial was recorded. It contained well-preserved remains of a c. 30/35-year-old male individual.
The assemblage of grave furnishings suggested that the burial dates to the turn of the 2nd and the 1st century BC. This
would make it one of the oldest Przeworsk culture assemblages recorded in the southern part of Lower Silesia. At that
time, cremation clearly dominated over inhumation in the Germanic cultures. It was only in Lower Silesia, Kuyavia and
western Lesser Poland, where a small number of sites with inhumation burials was found. The presence of those has long
been interpreted as a result of the La Tène culture impact on the indigenous communities. However, the authors of this
paper argue that untypical funerary practices might be explained by factors other than ethnicity. The scientific analyses of
the individual buried in the Siechnice grave demonstrated that he was of local origin and died in a relatively good biological
condition. Also, the artefacts recorded in this burial were typical of Przeworsk culture.
Śląskie Sprawozdania Archeologiczne, 2018
In research on the Lusatian culture, exact interactions between humans and nature are still not w... more In research on the Lusatian culture, exact interactions between humans and nature are still not well known. This applies inter alia to the ecumene located at the central Lusatian Neisse River. They were in use already since the Bronze Age till the end of the Hallstatt Period. For the purpose of investigating the human impact on palaeoenvironment at the discussed area, a number of analysis were carried out. On the basis of the numerical model terrain and aerial photographs, re-analysis of archives and literature, as well as hydrographic and orographic analyses were made. Studies on the east side of the Neisse were supplemented with not only traditional excavations but also with geophysical and geomorphological surveys. All spatial data was contained in a GIS database. The research results show that settlements concentrated on the edges of the uplands of both sides of river’s valleys. There only singular evidences of the contemporary communities in the Neisse valley itself. The boundaries of the considered ecumene were of natural origin. There were constituted by wetlands of streams Weiβer Schöps and Źółta Woda. During the Hallstatt Period, the central point of the ecumene was the defensive settlement in Nieder-Neundorf, around which were located all other open settlements. Cemeteries and a hoard were placed on its outskirts. The Lusatian Neisse was not a barrier, but rather an axis alongside which people dwelled. However, functioning with a noticeably greater intensity on the western side. Research carried on a soil morphology of the eastern side of the river allowed for the reconstruction of a diverse phytocoenosis. The comparison of reconstructed flora and functions of archaeological sites suggests that the cemeteries were located mostly in dry pine forests. Only one of the settlements was located near the mixed forest, and none was found at marsh or swampy forests.
„Forteca była istotnie nie do zdobycia, bo prócz armat broniły jej Dnieprowe przepaście i niedost... more „Forteca była istotnie nie do zdobycia, bo prócz armat broniły jej Dnieprowe przepaście i niedostępne skały pionowo zeskakujące w wodę; nie potrzebowała nawet wielkiej załogi. Toteż w zamku nie stało więcej nad sześćset ludzi, ale za to co najprzedniejszego żołnierza, uzbrojonego w muszkiety i samopały. Dniepr, płynąc w tym miejscu ściśniętym korytem, tak był wąski, że rzucona z wałów strzała przelatywała daleko na drugi brzeg. Działa zamkowe panowały nad oboma brzegami i nad całą okolicą. Prócz tego o pół mili od zamku stała wysoka wieża, z której ośm mil wokoło widać było, a w niej stu żołnierzy, do których pan Grodzicki każdego dnia zaglądał” /Sienkiewicz 1978: 103/.
Położone w Sudetach Środkowych Góry Kamienne to miejsce niezwykłe. W ich krajobrazach można podzi... more Położone w Sudetach Środkowych Góry Kamienne to miejsce niezwykłe. W ich krajobrazach można podziwiać dno morza sprzed ponad 300 mln lat, relikty procesów wulkanicznych zaszłych w trakcie transformacji dna morskiego w góry oraz miejsca pradziejowego i średniowiecznego zagospodarowania gór przez ludzi.
Słowo wstępne/ Archeologia Żywa nr 2 (68) 2018
ANTHROPOLOGICAL REVIEW, 2023
Libkovice is a village in the northwestern Czech Republic that was demolished at the end of the l... more Libkovice is a village in the northwestern Czech Republic that was demolished at the end of the last century due to the expansion of a nearby mine. The former church cemetery has been a subject to bioarchaeological excavation and research, where some 850 burials from the 13 th to the 19 th Century have been discovered so far. With the application of stable isotope analysis, it has also been possible to uncover the dietary patterns of this exemplary rural Central European community, which was the aim of this study. The materials analysed here consist of samples from long bones of 56 burials and 18 animal bones discovered in Libkovice during the 2019/21 excavations. It has been employed stable carbon (δ 13 C) isotope analysis to determine the average contributions of foods derived from the C3 plants. Statistically significant differences were found between the analyzed fauna and human samples for nitrogen (F=47.4 p<0.05) and carbon (F=19.18 p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the analyzed animal and human samples between the specify centuries. When considering the ages of various human individuals, the results indicated statistically significant differences in nitrogen isotopes (F= 7.71 p<0.05) between children from the infants I group and older children together with adults from the Middle Ages, as well as between children from the infants I group and adults (F= 3.3, p<0.05) from the modern times. The proportion of food from C3 plants that made up the diets of the studied population was on average 89%, and the potential proportion of freshwater fish in the diet could be higher than 80%. The similarity between the chronologically diverse groups may indicate similar strategies for food acquisition. The results obtained for the population of Libkovice are very similar to the diets of the populations living in Central Europe broadly during the two periods.
International Journal of Historical Archaeology, 2024
This article presents the discovery in Ruszów (German: Rauscha, today in Poland) of 103 stone epi... more This article presents the discovery in Ruszów (German: Rauscha, today in Poland) of 103 stone epitaphs from a demolished monument commemorating the inhabitants of this village-German soldiers who died during World War I. After World War II, Poland received part of Germany's territory in exchange for lands lost to the Soviet Union. Forced deportations followed the change of borders. Polish displaced persons in the new territories found a foreign cultural heritage, which they often treated as hostile-due to the vivid memories of the German occupation. In such circumstances, the monument in Ruszów was destroyed. The village inhabitants remembered this and decided to change it by initiating community archaeology to research the monument's relics. The universal right to remember the dead, which, in their opinion was violated in the act of destroying the monument, was the motivation for their actions. It prompted the scientists helping them to reflect on the various aspects of community archaeology.
Acta Militaria Mediaevalia XVIII, 2022
The paper discusses a discovery of a Type Immenstedt stirrup, which is unique in Poland. The arte... more The paper discusses a discovery of a Type Immenstedt stirrup, which is unique in Poland. The artefact was incidentally found in the course of ground works near a road in the locality of Choiniec-Czaple in Lower Silesia. On the basis of analogies to discoveries from Scandinavia, Germany, Austria and other sites in Europe, and also taking the find context into consideration, th th the stirrup can be dated to the late 8 or the first half of the 9 century. In this period, it came to an intensification of contacts of Slavic communities in Lower Silesia with the Franks.
Sylwan 166 (4), 2022
Puszcza Zgorzelecka (The Zgorzelec Wilderness) is part of Bory Dolnośląskie (the Lower Silesian W... more Puszcza Zgorzelecka (The Zgorzelec Wilderness) is part of Bory Dolnośląskie (the Lower Silesian Wilderness), one of the largest forest complexes in Central Europe, located in south− western Poland. Thousands of years of interaction between man and the environment have led to the formation of unique cultural and natural heritage, to this day leaving traces within the landscape. This heritage has been studied as part of an interdisciplinary archaeological research project that began in 2014. The deserted village of Tormersdorf, located by the Lusatian Neisse at the Polish−German border, is the central point of the study area. In total, 26 archaeological sites dating from the Mesolithic to the Second World War have been identified, 19 of which are covered by the forest. The forest's vegetation and the idea of preventive conservation of the environment have channelled the research process into the application of non−destructive methods of archaeological survey, complemented by the highest possible reduction of excava− tions and extended to include environmental studies. The content of this paper presents the methods and selected results of the project, a description of difficulties faced in its course, as well as thoughts on the scientific potential of forest heritage.
Broszura promocyjna projektu 1000 lat Górnych Łużyc, 2021
Architectus 4 (68), 2021
Thanatourism is a concept involving travel to sites associated with death and suffering. It is no... more Thanatourism is a concept involving travel to sites associated with death and suffering. It is not a cult of death, but merely a form of tourism aimed
at discovering places of human tragedy. Grodno Castle is a popular destination of thanatourists, as it features specific forms of attractions, namely a starvation dungeon with a displayed skeleton, a torture chamber, and burial crypts of the previous owners. The article discusses the phenomenon of the growing attractiveness of thanatourist places. Secondly, it presents the results of a study of human bone remains found in the starvation dungeon of Grodno Castle. The assumption was that the bone material could belong to the heroine of the legend of Princess Margaret (i.e. it could have been artificially assembled for the purposes of the exhibition) or it could come from the tombs of the last owners of the castle. An anthropological analysis was carried out, involving determination of the sex, age and other parameters, and appropriate measurements were taken. The analysis of the material showed that the remains belonged to at least three individuals of different ages, and both sexes (young woman, 19–22 years old; adult male, over 35 years old; mature woman, 45–55 years old). Most likely, some of the examined bones used to make up a displayed skeleton in the past. The
article also presents findings of a survey conducted among tourists at Grodno Castle, concerning their characteristics, as well as their motivations for visiting. According to our findings, Grodno Castle is mostly visited by women aged 35–44 with higher education, who live within 100 km from the castle. The main motivations for their visit are their interests in the past and the opportunity to tour the castle. The most frequent feelings expressed by the tourists during their visit were curiosity and enjoyment. Thanatological elements did not attract much attention. The lookout tower turned out to be the best tourist attraction. The exhibitions of human remains, coffins and the torture chamber mostly aroused curiosity, compassion and sadness among the visitors.
Architectus, 4 (68), 2021
Although Grodno Castle (Kynsburg), located in the southern part of the Wałbrzyskie Mountains, due... more Although Grodno Castle (Kynsburg), located in the southern part of the Wałbrzyskie Mountains, due to its turbulent history has been popular since the 19th century, this fact has never translated into the level of advancement of the scientific studies devoted to it. Until recently, scientific research, especially excavations, was carried out to a very limited extent. The aim of the article is to present and discuss the results of archaeological research conducted in 2017–2019 and its correlation with the knowledge provided to us by written sources. For this purpose, the most important historical events related to the functioning of Grodno Castle are briefly discussed. Then, the results of analyzes of the nature and relative chronology of the stratigraphic layers forming the embankment located on the castle zwinger and lying in the courtyard of the upper castle are presented, along with summarizing the conclusions of the typological, morphological, chronological and comparative analyzes of the archaeological finds discovered during the excavations. As a result of these activities, in the case of the layers forming the embankment located on the zwinger, 6 phases of anthropogenic activity were distinguished, which were related to historical events, and an image of the material culture of the castle inhabitants and the changes taking place in it over more than seven centuries were obtained.
PLOSE ONE , 2021
During archaeological excavations in burial sites, sometimes stoned organic objects are found, in... more During archaeological excavations in burial sites, sometimes stoned organic objects are found, in addition to human remains. Those objects might be of a different origin, depending on various factors influencing members of a community (i.e. diseases, trauma), which provides information about their living conditions. The St. Nicholas Church archaeological site (Libkovice, Czechia) in the 18 th century horizon of the cemetery, yielded a maturus-senilis female skeleton with a stone object in the left iliac fossa. This object was an oviform cyst-like rough structure, measuring 54 mm in length, 35 mm in maximum diameter and 0.2-0.7 mm shell thickness. Within the object there were small fetal bones (long bones, i.e. femur and two tibias, two scapulas, three ribs, vertebrae and other tiny bone fragments). Methods utilized to analyze the outer and inner surface morphology of the cyst and its inside, included: X-ray, CT imaging, SEM, histological staining and EDS. The EDS analysis revealed the presence of primarily oxygen, calcium and phosphorus in bone samples, and oxygen and silicon, in stone shell. Based on the length of the femur (20.2 mm) and tibia (16 mm) shafts, the fetal age was determined as being in the 15-18 week of pregnancy. The differential diagnosis was conducted, including for the three most probable cases: fetiform teratoma (FT), fetus-in-fetu (FIF) and lithopedion. The possibility of fetiform teratoma was discounted due to the presence of an anatomically correct spine, long bones and the proportions of the find. Although the low calcium content in the shell (2.3% atom mass), the lack of skull bones and the better developed lower limbs indicate fetus-in-fetu rather than lithopedion, the analyses results are unable to conclusively identify the object under one of these two categories since there are insufficient such cases in excavation material with which to draw comparison.
Archeologia Polski, 2021
Archaeological excavation in the marketplace of Wiązów (Strzelin district) in 1992 and again in 2... more Archaeological excavation in the marketplace of Wiązów (Strzelin district) in 1992 and again in 2018 uncovered the relics of a small cemetery consisting of at least three inhumation burials. These were identified as burials of members of the local Celtic community from the early La Tène period, as indicated by certain features of the graves. Some of the personal adornments found with the skeletons were produced probably in workshops active at the time in the central part of the Bohemian Basin. The location of the graves on the fringes of the La Tène culture settlement is also of interest.
KONSERWACJA ZAPOBIEGAWCZA ŚRODOWISKA 5. DZIEDZICTWO MILITARNE, 2017
The Zgorzelec Wilderness (Görlitzer Heide) is located in southwestern Poland. It stretches betwee... more The Zgorzelec Wilderness (Görlitzer Heide) is located in southwestern Poland. It stretches between the river Neisse, which
is the Polish-German border, and the river Czerna Wielka.
It is part of the Lower Silesian Wilderness – one of the largest forests in the Central European Lowlands. The Zgorzelec
Wilderness from the late Middle Ages to the first half of the
twentieth century was the property of the nearby Zgorzelec
(Görlitz) town. The armed conflicts which took place in this part
of Europe were in breach of existence of human communities
living in it. The remains of war preserved in the western part
of the Zgorzelec Forest are currently the subject of research
conducted within the project «Residents, culture and natural
environment of Upper Lusatia as an example of research of
micro-regions settlement Tormersdorf / Toporów». The project is implemented in the Department of Anthropology at the
University of Life Sciences in Wrocław by an interdisciplinary
research team, composed of anthropologists, archaeologists,
botanist and zoologist. Research is conducted in collaboration
with the company National Forests, Forest District Ruszów –
hosted the study area.
The central point of the study area is ruined Prędocice
(Tormersdorf) village, also known as Toporów, located on the
western edge of the forest. The village was founded in the
fourteenth century, and existed till the spring of 1945. With
its history are related to episodes of two major conflicts: the
Napoleonic Wars and World War II.
Wieś zaginiona Wspólnota, samorządność, przestrzeń, 2020
650 years ago, members of the Upper Lusatian League burned the city of Nowoszów, along with the c... more 650 years ago, members of the Upper Lusatian League burned the city of Nowoszów, along with the castle Neuhaus built by Duke Bolko II. Apparently, the traces of it were still visible in the last century, but the knowledge about its location has not survived to the present day.
Using basic research methods, such as querying and analyzing of archives and literature, analyzing LiDAR data, surface survey, excavations, artefacts‘ chronological and formal analysis, and geophysical survey, the site has been thoroughly examined.
As a result of the conducted activities, the usefulness of individual research methods was verified, the layout of the village and functions of some buildings were recognized, and probably the court of Bolko II was located.
Archeologia Żywa, 2020
Milczanie to jedna ze wspólnot etnolingwistycznych (plemion) wczesnośredniowiecznej Słowiańszczyz... more Milczanie to jedna ze wspólnot etnolingwistycznych (plemion) wczesnośredniowiecznej Słowiańszczyzny Zachodniej, której nazwa pojawiła się po raz pierwszy u tzw. Geografa Bawarskiego w połowie IX w., a zniknęła z kart historii w XII w. Co działo się w międzyczasie? Jak
wyglądało życie Milczan? Odpowiedzi na te pytania poszukują naukowcy zaangażowani w realizację projektu „1000 lat Górnych Łużyc – ludzie, grody, miasta”.
Śląskie Sprawozdania Archeologiczne, 2018
Castles were centres of the socio-economic life. In the last centuries castles were gradually dis... more Castles were centres of the socio-economic life. In the last centuries castles were gradually disappearing from the landscape of Central Europe. It was mostly due to changes in a social order, but also because of natural disasters which happened during that time. In few cases this happened so suddenly and fully that today we even can’t point out their approximate location. This is especially true for castles functioning between 14th and 16th century in the Zgorzelec Wilderness (south-west Poland), in places known nowadays as Prędocice, Nowoszów, Pieńsk and Piaseczna. To identify castles’ oikumenes authors decided to re-analyse known historical evidences and execute a field research. The latter one was targeted to recognize not only cultural heritage such as ruins of buildings or earthworks, but also changes in the natural environment, such as biotope’s transformations. As a result of dual humanistic-environmental studies remains of a medieval building were found in Nowoszów. They were assumed to be vestiges of the castle’s oikumene, maybe a tower house, functioning at the manmade isle on the Czerna Wielka river. The other result of the research was identifying other artificial islands, in these cases, on the Lusatian Neisse river that with a big probability contain remains of castles in Prędocice and Pieńsk. Castles in the Zgorzelec Wilderness didn’t deviate from other structures of this type and were built in naturally defensive locations. River valleys’ neckings and natural elevations within river fluvial valleys were accordingly transformed to better serve its purposes. Rivers and streams in addition were used as an economic base, for example to power hammer forges. A natural environment’s transformations caused by castles’ inhabitants were so vast, that these changes dated back to Late Middle Ages and Early Modern Period to this day are clearly visible in ecosystems of the Zgorzelec Wilderness.
Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt, 2018
In the course of rescue excavations at a multicultural site in Siechnice (pow. Wrocław / PL), an ... more In the course of rescue excavations at a multicultural site in Siechnice (pow. Wrocław / PL), an isolated younger Pre-Roman
Iron Age Przeworsk culture burial was recorded. It contained well-preserved remains of a c. 30/35-year-old male individual.
The assemblage of grave furnishings suggested that the burial dates to the turn of the 2nd and the 1st century BC. This
would make it one of the oldest Przeworsk culture assemblages recorded in the southern part of Lower Silesia. At that
time, cremation clearly dominated over inhumation in the Germanic cultures. It was only in Lower Silesia, Kuyavia and
western Lesser Poland, where a small number of sites with inhumation burials was found. The presence of those has long
been interpreted as a result of the La Tène culture impact on the indigenous communities. However, the authors of this
paper argue that untypical funerary practices might be explained by factors other than ethnicity. The scientific analyses of
the individual buried in the Siechnice grave demonstrated that he was of local origin and died in a relatively good biological
condition. Also, the artefacts recorded in this burial were typical of Przeworsk culture.
Śląskie Sprawozdania Archeologiczne, 2018
In research on the Lusatian culture, exact interactions between humans and nature are still not w... more In research on the Lusatian culture, exact interactions between humans and nature are still not well known. This applies inter alia to the ecumene located at the central Lusatian Neisse River. They were in use already since the Bronze Age till the end of the Hallstatt Period. For the purpose of investigating the human impact on palaeoenvironment at the discussed area, a number of analysis were carried out. On the basis of the numerical model terrain and aerial photographs, re-analysis of archives and literature, as well as hydrographic and orographic analyses were made. Studies on the east side of the Neisse were supplemented with not only traditional excavations but also with geophysical and geomorphological surveys. All spatial data was contained in a GIS database. The research results show that settlements concentrated on the edges of the uplands of both sides of river’s valleys. There only singular evidences of the contemporary communities in the Neisse valley itself. The boundaries of the considered ecumene were of natural origin. There were constituted by wetlands of streams Weiβer Schöps and Źółta Woda. During the Hallstatt Period, the central point of the ecumene was the defensive settlement in Nieder-Neundorf, around which were located all other open settlements. Cemeteries and a hoard were placed on its outskirts. The Lusatian Neisse was not a barrier, but rather an axis alongside which people dwelled. However, functioning with a noticeably greater intensity on the western side. Research carried on a soil morphology of the eastern side of the river allowed for the reconstruction of a diverse phytocoenosis. The comparison of reconstructed flora and functions of archaeological sites suggests that the cemeteries were located mostly in dry pine forests. Only one of the settlements was located near the mixed forest, and none was found at marsh or swampy forests.
„Forteca była istotnie nie do zdobycia, bo prócz armat broniły jej Dnieprowe przepaście i niedost... more „Forteca była istotnie nie do zdobycia, bo prócz armat broniły jej Dnieprowe przepaście i niedostępne skały pionowo zeskakujące w wodę; nie potrzebowała nawet wielkiej załogi. Toteż w zamku nie stało więcej nad sześćset ludzi, ale za to co najprzedniejszego żołnierza, uzbrojonego w muszkiety i samopały. Dniepr, płynąc w tym miejscu ściśniętym korytem, tak był wąski, że rzucona z wałów strzała przelatywała daleko na drugi brzeg. Działa zamkowe panowały nad oboma brzegami i nad całą okolicą. Prócz tego o pół mili od zamku stała wysoka wieża, z której ośm mil wokoło widać było, a w niej stu żołnierzy, do których pan Grodzicki każdego dnia zaglądał” /Sienkiewicz 1978: 103/.
Położone w Sudetach Środkowych Góry Kamienne to miejsce niezwykłe. W ich krajobrazach można podzi... more Położone w Sudetach Środkowych Góry Kamienne to miejsce niezwykłe. W ich krajobrazach można podziwiać dno morza sprzed ponad 300 mln lat, relikty procesów wulkanicznych zaszłych w trakcie transformacji dna morskiego w góry oraz miejsca pradziejowego i średniowiecznego zagospodarowania gór przez ludzi.
Słowo wstępne/ Archeologia Żywa nr 2 (68) 2018
Call for papers: EAA Rome 2024, 2024
Recent archaeological research focused on concentration and other types of Nazi camps have demons... more Recent archaeological research focused on concentration and other types of Nazi camps have demonstrated that archaeological approaches and methods not only complement fragmentary historical (written and oral) sources, but also open up new questions connected with the materiality of European dark heritage and totalitarian pasts. The main concentration camps, whose names have become symbols of Nazi atrocities, were supplemented by hundreds of sub-camps, many of which have been forgotten and their exact locations unknown. However, it was the ubiquitous sub-camps, as well as forced labour, and other types of smaller camps, that formed the Nazi "campscape" which was entangled with war infrastructure and logistics. Hundreds of thousands of prisoners and forced labourers who were housed in these locations worked in appalling conditions in war production facilities. Unlike the main concentration camps and Holocaust extermination centres, historical memory formation has often ignored the material remains of smaller camps in the postwar period. Due to the vast number of these sites, most of them lack any kind of memorialization and heritage protection. Additionally, places where mass violence and crimes against humanity took place currently face development and construction activities that erase archaeological evidence of this kind at an alarming rate. We invite contributors to explore the tangible dark heritage of Nazi concentration sub-camps, forced labour, and other types of neglected sites such as Arbeitserziehungslager, Jugendschutzlager, Polizeihaftlager, Sammellager für Juden or Zigeuner Anhaltelager.
Woodland archaeology: approaches, methods, current problems and future perspectives A vast part o... more Woodland archaeology: approaches, methods, current problems and future perspectives A vast part of Europe is covered with forests (esp. Central, Eastern and Northern Europe), however, systematic field research within woodlands has often been neglected by field archaeologists. The application of standard archaeological techniques in forested environments such as surface, topographic and geophysical survey in dense vegetation, and the use of GPS or ALS data can certainly encounter a number of problems. On the other hand many wooded areas offer a unique opportunity to investigate well-preserved remains of former human activities, whose traces have not been erased or transformed by modern agriculture, industrialisation or urbanisation. In some historical periods it is possible in some regions to reveal complete segments of deserted cultural landscapes due to the process of forest succession. This session will focus on recent theoretical approaches and methodologies in woodland archaeology. We will address topics ranging from the formation processes of the archaeological record within forested environments, the use of non-invasive methods and targeted excavations, the classification and interpretation of anthropogenic features, as well as the potential threats to archaeological features and landscapes posed by modern forest management techniques.-Session Format:papers, max. 15 minutes each.-Deadline: 15th of February 2018-Go to https://www.e-a-a.org/EAA2018 for submitting your abstract and for further information on membership and EAA 2018.
Woodland archaeology: approaches, methods, current problems and future perspectives A vast part o... more Woodland archaeology: approaches, methods, current problems and future perspectives A vast part of Europe is covered with forests (esp. Central, Eastern and Northern Europe), however, systematic field research within woodlands has often been neglected by field archaeologists. The application of standard archaeological techniques in forested environments such as surface, topographic and geophysical survey in dense vegetation, and the use of GPS or ALS data can certainly encounter a number of problems. On the other hand many wooded areas offer a unique opportunity to investigate well-preserved remains of former human activities, whose traces have not been erased or transformed by modern agriculture, industrialisation or urbanisation. In some historical periods it is possible in some regions to reveal complete segments of deserted cultural landscapes due to the process of forest succession. This session will focus on recent theoretical approaches and methodologies in woodland archaeology. We will address topics ranging from the formation processes of the archaeological record within forested environments, the use of non-invasive methods and targeted excavations, the classification and interpretation of anthropogenic features, as well as the potential threats to archaeological features and landscapes posed by modern forest management techniques.-Session Format:papers, max. 15 minutes each.-Deadline: 15th of February 2018-Go to https://www.e-a-a.org/EAA2018 for submitting your abstract and for further information on membership and EAA 2018.
Woodland archaeology: approaches, methods, current problems and future perspectives A vast part o... more Woodland archaeology: approaches, methods, current problems and future perspectives A vast part of Europe is covered with forests (esp. Central, Eastern and Northern Europe), however, systematic field research within woodlands has often been neglected by field archaeologists. The application of standard archaeological techniques in forested environments such as surface, topographic and geophysical survey in dense vegetation, and the use of GPS or ALS data can certainly encounter a number of problems. On the other hand many wooded areas offer a unique opportunity to investigate well-preserved remains of former human activities, whose traces have not been erased or transformed by modern agriculture, industrialisation or urbanisation. In some historical periods it is possible in some regions to reveal complete segments of deserted cultural landscapes due to the process of forest succession. This session will focus on recent theoretical approaches and methodologies in woodland archaeology. We will address topics ranging from the formation processes of the archaeological record within forested environments, the use of non-invasive methods and targeted excavations, the classification and interpretation of anthropogenic features, as well as the potential threats to archaeological features and landscapes posed by modern forest management techniques.-Session Format:papers, max. 15 minutes each.-Deadline: 15th of February 2018-Go to https://www.e-a-a.org/EAA2018 for submitting your abstract and for further information on membership and EAA 2018.
A report on the non-invasive archaeological prospection of the abandoned village of Nowoszów / No... more A report on the non-invasive archaeological prospection of the abandoned village of Nowoszów / Nowiny (Lower Silesian Wilderness, Poland)
Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Przyrodniczego we Wrocławiu, 2019
Środowisko, mieszkańcy i kultura zanikłej wsi łużyckiej Pod redakcją Jacka Szczurowskiego i Pawła... more Środowisko, mieszkańcy i kultura zanikłej wsi łużyckiej Pod redakcją Jacka Szczurowskiego i Pawła Konczewskiego Tormersdorf-Toporów-Prędocice Środowisko, mieszkańcy i kultura zanikłej wsi łużyckiej Zanikłe wsie z różnych okresów historycznych budzą zainteresowanie kilku dyscyplin nauki. Najintensywniej tematem zajmowali się dotąd archeolodzy. Podejmowane przez nich pyta-nia badawcze nie znajdą jednak odpowiedzi bez historyków, antropologów fizycznych i kul-turowych, geografów, biologów i innych specjalistów z dziedzin humanistycznych i przyrod-niczych. Wyniki tych badań znamy z dość licznych publikacji przedstawianych w Europie w różnej formie i z różnych okazji. Biorąc pod uwagę tereny środkowoeuropejskie, zauważa się znaczną dysproporcję stanu zaawansowania tych badań między obszarami Czech, Mo-raw, Saksonii i Brandenburgii, gdzie są one rozwinięte, a dzisiejszą Polską, gdzie można je określić jako wstępne. Tym bardziej cieszy przygotowanie do publikacji materiałów z daw-nego Tormersdorfu-łużyckiej wsi zanikłej po II wojnie światowej, badanej przez interdy-scyplinarny zespół zorganizowany na Uniwersytecie Przyrodniczym we Wrocławiu. prof. dr hab. Jerzy Piekalski, Instytut Archeologii UWr (fragm. recenzji wydawniczej) Interdyscyplinarność badań we współczesnej nauce jest nie tyle przejawem nowoczesności, co wręcz wymogiem kompetencji. Oznacza to, że prowadząc badania, zwłaszcza te dotyczą-ce naszego gatunku, badacz powinien zadbać o możliwie szerokie spektrum różnorodnych analiz, wykraczających poza dyscyplinę, którą sam reprezentuje. Tym sposobem powstaje niezwykle ciekawy i bliski rzeczywistości obraz minionych epok. Recenzowana monogra-fia z całą pewnością spełnia powyższy wymóg interdyscyplinarności. Badacze zaprosili do współpracy wielu naukowców, w tym biologów zajmujących się izotopami, archeozoolo-gów, archeobotaników, by dokonać rekonstrukcji środowiska życia dawnych mieszkańców wsi Toporów, którą do końca II wojny światowej nazywano Tormersdorf, a w okresie powo-jennym Prędocice. (...) Prezentowaną monografię oceniam bardzo wysoko. Zaangażowanie specjalistów różnych obszarów nauki dało niezwykle ciekawy i spójny obraz populacji zamieszkującej wieś Toporów. Uważam, że monografia może być przykładem dla innych podobnych na-ukowych przedsięwzięć w budowaniu i prowadzeniu badań interdyscyplinarnych. dr hab. Jacek Tomczyk prof. UKSW, Instytut Nauk Biologicznych UKSW (fragm. recenzji wydawniczej)