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The Social Archaeology of Sacred Heritage in Poland: The Significance of Archaeological Research for the Identity of Local Communities

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Drewicz M.

Polish Journal of Political Science

2025

vol. 11

issue 2

65-83

The aim of the article is to demonstrate how archaeological research conducted on church premises in Poland becomes a social and cultural practice in which local communities – particularly parish communities – reinterpret the past and co-create their sacred heritage. It also aims to show that archaeology on church premises, when analyzed from a social perspective, performs not only a cognitive but also an identity-forming, community, and spiritual function. The article adopts the perspective of the social archaeology of sacred heritage, presenting it within the framework of contemporary approaches to the social archaeology of sacred places, including theoretical foundations and context. It presents an analysis of empirical data collected through individual in-depth interviews (IDIs) conducted with Roman Catholic clergy, in the following categories: discovering local uniqueness, building community identity, and barriers and challenges. The key findings of the study indicate that archaeology on church premises in Poland transcends the boundaries of scientific discourse, entering the sphere of religious, cultural, and community life, which makes it a significant element of identity-forming processes at the local level. The findings also highlight the necessity of developing an interdisciplinary methodology that combines social archaeology, contextual theology, and heritage studies.

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1 Polish Journal of Political Science

1 Drewicz M.

1 2025

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The Social Archaeology of Sacred Heritage in Poland: The Significance of Archaeological Research for the Identity of Local Communities