Kleszewo

In 2020, the MAMM was provided funding by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (programme: Protection of Archaeological Heritage) for:

Kleszewo – Przeworsk and Wielbark Culture cemetery. Research results, Tome 1
(task no. 00563/20)

This project was planned to take two years. It constituted the first stage of documenting the site at Kleszewo, Pułtusk District, discovered in 1961. Excavations began in 1964, initially as an emergency rescue dig, with the second season becoming normal scientific exploration. The excavations were headed by Stefan Woyda – at that time the Heritage Conservation Officer for the Warsaw Voivodship. The Kleszewo site was explored over nine seasons (1964–1972), examining about 6,700 m² and discovering some 1,100 archaeological features, such as the remains of a large settlement from the Bronze Age (Trzciniec and Lusatian Cultures), a cemetery dating from the Late Pre-Roman Period to the Late Roman Period and the Migration Period (Przeworsk and Wielbark Cultures), plus a small necropolis from the onset of the 2nd millennium AD.

The project involves publishing the material from the Przeworsk and Wielbark Culture cemetery. The cemetery was fully explored. About 550 graves, dating from the 2nd century BC to the turn of the 5th century AD, were found. The excavated artefacts are displayed at the Pruszków Museum and consist of over 2,000 items made of metal, clay, bone, stone and glass, a similar number of pottery vessels (whole or fragmented), and over ten thousand pottery sherds.

The task involves publishing a catalogue of features, including a description of the graves, description and typological classification of archaeological artefacts, identification of cultural attributes and dating of individual artefacts. Close to 150 original negatives of photographs documenting the exploration will be digitalised. A digital model of the site and its surroundings will be prepared. Specialised analyses of, for example, anthropological and archaeozoological material, fabric fragments or botanical remains will be carried out. The whole monograph will conclude with approx. 300 plates with illustrations and photographs of artefacts.

The publication will be delivered in two language versions. Both versions, in e-format, will be available free of charge on the Museum’s website.

Co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritagewith funds fromthe Culture Promotion Fund (Fundusz Promocji Kultury), from charges on games of chance included in State Monopoly, as per art. 80 sec. 1 of Gambling Act from 19/11/2009.