Problemy i kierunki archeologicznych badań konserwatorskich na przykładzie działalności PKZ

• Authors: Gromnicki Jan

Title variants

EN

PROBLEMS AND TRENDS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSERVATION STUDIES AS EXEMPLIFIED BY THE ACTIVITIES OF MONUMENTS’ CONSERVATION WORKSHOPS (THE MCWS)*

• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

The literature on problems concerning archaeological conservation studies is scarce from a theoretical and methodical point of view; it is limited in principle to speeches and papers delivered at archaeological sessions and conferences arranged, inter alia, by the MCWs, to mention only more important ones such as papers by W. Hensel, Z. Rajewski and some other Polish archaeologists. A slightly different aspect, i.e. the protection o f archaeological monuments in towns and green lands, was raised at the conference at Białystok—Białowieża held in 1977. The problem o f general recording o f archaeological posts was brought up by W. Chmielewski. Trying to make a survey o f achievements in archaeological conservation studies, the author has encountered difficulties in the field of terminology and criterions o f qualifying archaeological research works as conservation ones. The attempt to establish these criterions necessitates assuming that all archaeological studies are scientific, because they employ scientific methods. Conservation studies differ only in slightly different purposes and conditions in which they will be carried out, depending in practical conservation needs, e.g. on the level o f endangering. This will result in time and space limitations affecting the outcome, i.e. resources o f information acquired during the studies. Limitations should be effected in a possibly cognizant way, based on competent decisions. In face o f a devastating method of studies and the above limitations, o f particular importance is thus the documentation and integration o f research disciplines, selected in conformity with the nature o f an object and relevant research problems. Of substantial significance will also be the quality of research methods as well as a structure o f the workshop including its technical facilities. A due attention is also attached to creating and observing a programme o f research works, which, next to research problems involved, should include a schedule o f works as well as conclusions and postulates on conservation that can be formulated at that stage. The process o f archaeological studies can be divided into two stages. The first stage comprises cataloguing o f the site (sites), a sounding reconnaissance study, test drilling by geophysical and other methods. This would provide grounds for preparing a programme o f proper studies, i.e. their second stage, and would also give the answer to problems set as a result o f scientific works, usually commenced in the course o f field studies. Basic trends of archaeological conservation studies in Poland were given form in the fifties’ and early sixties’, on the occasion o f archaeological studies carried out prior to investment works (to mention only the site o f constructing the Nowa Huta Steelworks near Krakow) and also in connection with studies on the beginnings of the Polish state. The latter studies gave rise to group research works involving foundations and monuments’ complexes with medieval architectural relics, continued by the Institute o f Material Culture History at the Polish Academy of Sciences, Archaeological Department as well as by a number of museums and the MCWs. They also brought about a development and improvement of research and documentation methods, broader integration of disciplines involved and also extended a scope o f studies with contemporary objects. Studies on sites o f prospect investment works and linked with the expansion o f towns and settlements resulted in forming the so-called broad-planed method o f research by means o f big mechanical equipment. The method, enabling to view a complete picture o f the settlement and its interdependencies, is employed by archaeologists from the MCWs during studies on sites o f future mines, water reservoirs, etc. A slightly different trend is displayed by cataloguing investigations aimed at a country-wide scale and based on a uniform system o f documentation. This long-term research project, already under execution in some parts o f Poland, provides for a cooperation between all archaeological circles. In future, it should also include a campaign o f cataloguing such field forms as medieval strongholds and grave mounds, basing on uniform methods o f documentation. * * Monuments’ Conservation Workshops, state-owned enterprises, comprise at present nine Archaeological Conservation Workshops, in operation since 1957 and employing about fifty archaeologists.

Keywords

PL

archeologiczne badania konserwatorskie; Pracownie Konserwacji Zabytków; badania naukowe; dokumentacja badań konserwatorskich; badania archeologiczne pod presją inwestycji

• Publisher: Narodowy Instytut Dziedzictwa
• Journal: Ochrona Zabytków
• Year: 1978
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 241-246

Dates

published

1978

Contributors

author

Gromnicki Jan

• mgr, PP Pracownie Konserwacji Zabytków Warszawa

References

• W. H e n s e l , Z dziedziny konserwatorstwa archeologicznego, „Biuletyn Informacyjny PKZ”, nr 19, 1970, s. 12— 16; Te n ż e , Na srebrny jubileusz Polskiej Rzeczypospolitej Ludowej (1944—1969), „Archeologia Polski”, t. 14, z. 1, 1969, s. 7—17.
• Z. R a j e w s k i , Muzealnictwo i konserwatorstwo archeologiczne w XXV-leciu PRL, „Wiadomości Archeologiczne”, t. XXXVI, z. 1, 1971, s. 5—18. Zob. też tegoż autora: O potrzebach metodycznych i organizacji badań na niektorych obiektach zabytkowych, „Biuletyn Informacyjny PKZ”, nr 19, 1970, s. 17—28.
• T. Ż u r o w s k i , K. D ą b r o w s k i i T. K a l e t y n — wystąpienia na konferencji konserwatorskiej we Wrocławiu w roku 1976 (w druku), J. J a s k a n i s — w referacie wygłoszonym podczas sesji PTAiN w Bydgoszczy w 1974 г., A. K e m p i s t y — w referacie wygłoszonym podczas konferencji konserwatorskiej w Białymstoku—Białowieży w 1977 r. (w druku). Zob. też: J. K owal c z y k , Badania powierzchniowe palącym zadaniem archeologii, „Wiadomości Archeologiczne”, t. XXXIX, z. 1, 1974, s. 28—31, R. Ma z u r o w s k i , Możliwości poznawcze badań powierzchniowych, tamże, s. 32—39; K. K o w a l s k i , Badania powierzchniowe w archeologii, tamże, s. 40—43; S. Wo y d a , O pracach nad zdjęciem archeologicznym terenu Mazowsza i Podlasia, tamże, s. 44—47.
• K. R a d w a ń s k i , Krakow przedlokacyjny. Rozwoj przestrzenny, Krakow 1975; Wł. B ł a s z c z y k , Wyniki badań archeologicznych w strefie św. Gotarda na Starym Mieście w Poznaniu, „Fontes Archaeologici Posnanienses” , t. 23, 1972, s. 120—191. Zob. też: Początki i rozwoj Starego Miasta w Poznaniu w świetle badań archeologicznych i urbanistyczm-architektonicznych. Materiały z Ogolnopolskiego Sympozjum w Poznaniu w dniach 18—19. X. 1973. „Biblioteka Fontes Archaeologici Posnanienses” , t. 3, Warszawa—Poznań 1977.
• Materiały z sesji archeologicznej, Kazimierz 22—23.X.1974 r., „Biuletyn Informacyjny PKZ” , nr 31, 1975; Materiały z konferencji archeologicznej w Kamieniu Pomorskim (7 października 1975 r.), „Biuletyn Informacyjny PKZ” , nr 32, 1976, s. 61—184.
• Materiały z sesji archeologicznej poświęconej metodyce badań na terenach realizacji przestrzennych, „Biuletyn Informacyjny PKZ”, nr 25, 1973. Zob. też Badania szerokopłaszczyznowe w wa runkach wielkich inwestycji, Łodź—Jeziorsko—Bełchatow 1977 r., „Informacje Bieżące PKZ” (w druku).