Remains of burial pits, probably from before the 17th century, containing human remains, were discovered during renovation and restoration work under the floor of the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Rzeszów.

Credit: the Rzeszów Archaeological Centre Foundation

The discovery in the basilica belonging to the Bernardines was made at the beginning of the restoration work by archaeologists from the Rzeszów Archaeological Centre Foundation. Under the removed floor, they found the remains of burial pits. According to Dariusz Bobak, they are associated with the former cemetery, which was located in the place of the present church before its construction, before the beginning of the 17th century.

During the study of burial pits, archaeologists found valuable monuments, including fragments of ceramics, nails, coins and bones.

"Uncovering two crypts, including one previously unknown, was extremely important. The larger crypt, located on the southern side of the transept, consists of several rooms. At least five people were buried there. Their remains were placed in coffins in an upright position, with hands folded in prayer" - says Bobak.

Anthropologist Joanna Rogóż says that these are bones of 4 adults, including at least one young person, about 25 years old, as well as one small child, possibly a newborn. Two skulls were cut across, which means that the deceased were members of a higher social class.

In addition to fragments of coffins, elements of costumes and a Rosary have also been preserved.

Credit: the Rzeszów Archaeological Centre Foundation

In the second, smaller crypt, located on the opposite side, archaeologists discovered the remains of several coffins, probably also filled with bones. This crypt has not been explored yet.

According to Bobak, these crypts are younger, built in the present church, meaning that they date back no farther than the seventeenth century.

The human remains and coffins found in the crypts will be subjected to further analyses, which will allow to determine the age, sex and physical condition of the buried people.

Bobak believes that although archaeological research conducted in the St. Bernardine church in Rzeszów is only in its initial phase, it has already provided a lot of important information.

"First of all, it substantiates the information about the existence of a wooden church that preceded the basilica. The study of the crypts could allow to connect the deceased with historical figures" - the archaeologist explains.

Credit: the Rzeszów Archaeological Centre Foundation

Father Rafał Klimas, the custodian of the sanctuary, reminds that ordinary people were not buried in churches. Such burials were reserved for more distinguished members of the community, such as founders, abbots and priors. He says that these could be the remains of the Lubomirskis or the Ligęzas.

Burial pits were found during the second phase of renovation and restoration work in the basilica that includes floors and polychromies on the walls. The discoveries under the floor are a surprise, because archaeologists did not expect to find burial pits predating the temple.

The total cost of the renovation and conservation project in the basilica is PLN 3.6 million. Work will continue until the end of October.

The Rzeszów Archaeological Centre Foundation was established in 2004. Its basic activity is conducting archaeological research in the areas under conservation protection.

The foundation also carries out projects financed under the priority "Protection of archaeological heritage" of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. It is a sponsor and co-organizer of the national competition for the best master's thesis in archaeology.

Author: Agnieszka Pipała | Source: PAP - Science in Poland [March 01, 2018]

Archaeologists found the an unusual knife during last year's excavations in the early medieval fortified settlement in Pasym, in the northern Polish district of Szczycień.

The medieval scribe's knife from Pasym [Credit: S. Wadyl]

"This is the only Prussian settlement with such an early metric, it dates back to the 7th-9th century,"  says Dr. Sławomir Wadyl from the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Warsaw, who conducted excavations in Pasym together within Kacper Martyka from the Museum of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn.

The knife was discovered in a hearth inside a residential building. According to Dr. Wadyl, the tool is less than 10 cm in length. What distinguishes the knife from other objects of this type, is the presence of two blades - a longer blade (measuring 4.2cm) and a shorter one (measuring 2.7cm), which could be used interchangeably. Both blades were formed by cutting off the back. Based on other objects found in its vicinity, archaeologists estimate that the knife comes from the 8th-9th century.

"No similar object has been found in Poland until now. The search for similar artefacts led us to the British Isles, where rotary knives are quite typical for this period. The objects discovered there, as well as in Frisia and Norway, are similar to our find," said Dr. Wadyl. According to him, it is surprising that until now similar objects have not been found in the Polish lands, in the areas associated with either the Slavs or the Balts.

Researchers believe that knives of this type were used by scribes in their work. Two different precision blades could be used to create manuscripts - such tools are among the instruments frequently depicted in the images of scribes found on miniatures from the era.

"On this basis, we know that knives with a variety of blades accompanied all stages of manuscript creation: they were used to cut parchment, mark lines, control the shape of letters and erase mistakes," says Dr. Wadyl.

"It appears that they were originally used by scribes, but with time they were probably adapted by other crafts that required precision, where the possibilities offered by knives with two different blades were extremely desirable. So they could be used for processing leather, wood or bones," says the archaeologist. Evidence of antler processing was found within the building where the knife was discovered.

According to Wadyl, it is difficult to say whether the knife had been brought from Scandinavia or the British Isles, but the concept of its creation clearly indicates this origin.

Less similar specimens of rotary knives have been discovered by archaeologists in Belarus and Estonia, but they are several hundred years younger than the one from Pasym.

Author: Szymon Zdziebłowski | Source: PAP - Science in Poland [January 28, 2018]