Top 6 archaeological discoveries made by Polish scientists in 2015

First of all I would like to stress here that it's totally subjective selection, based on my private thoughts. It' really difficult to choose top 6 archaeological projects - there were so many interesting initiatives led by Polish teams both in homeland and abroad. But here you have it - you can agree or not. Discussion is very welcome! Finally - important thing. The list consists not only "discoveries" sensu stricto.

1. Monumental stone structures in the Carpathians

The oldest example of stone wall in the history of construction in the Polish lands has been discovered by archaeologists from Kraków on Zyndram’s Hill in Maszkowice (Małopolska). News about it featured in the national media and thrilled public.

Read more here.

Remains of the fallen wall in Maszkowice, photo courtesy of M. S. Przybyła

2. Rock art discovery in Tanzania

Previously unknown rock paintings, covering rock shelters in the Kondoa district in central Tanzania, have been discovered by Maciej Grzelczyk. At the same time, the researcher started an intensive ethnological research project, through which he hopes to understand the importance of the discovered paintings.

Read more here

One of the discovered rock art depictions, photo. Maciej Grzelczyk

3. Another part of the Temple of Hatshepsut opened to the public

Polish-Egyptian Archaeological-Conservation mission at Hathsepsut's has been working for more than 50 years. Now it opened the Solar Cult Complex for general public.

Read more here.

4. 250-year old dildo from Gdańsk (Poland)

A very well preserved dildo, made of leather and wood, was discovered by archaeologists during the work inside the old latrine in Podwale Przedmiejskie in Gdańsk. The find comes from the second half of the eighteenth century. Its unique.

Read more here.

Photo: The Regional Office for the Protection of Monuments in Gdańsk

5. Poles reconstructed houses of the first Egyptians

Jacek Karmowski, PhD student of the Institute of Archaeology of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków prepared virtual 3D model of more than 5 thousand years old Egyptian homes, discovered during the excavations at Tell el-Farkha in the Nile Delta. Now we know how ordinary Egyptians used to live!

Read more here.

Reconstruction - Jacek Karmowski

6. Poland: Szczecin archaeologists discovered megalithic structures

Mysterious megalithic structures, erected a few thousand years ago from huge blocks of stone, have been discovered in the Łobez Land (West Pomerania) by researchers from the Department of Archaeology, University of Szczecin (USz). The discovery proves that densely inhabited Europe still hides amazing megalithic structures!

Read more here.

Polish archaeologists identified unknown Hatshepsuts temple!

What can you see when you think of Hatshepsut temple? This startling (re)construction?:

Good guess! It's one of the most famous archaeological sites in Egypt, placed close to Luxor - by the way it has been reconstructed by another Polish team of scientists and architects.

This time Polish researchers announced discovery of unknown temple which was founded during Hatshepsut reign (1473-1458 BC). To be frank - its not gonna be tourist attraction for sure. First of all it was cut in the rock in Gebelein, about 30 km south of Thebes. It is not quite touristic area. Secondly, "the temple" consists just of two small chambers with some barely preserved decorations and hieroglyphic inscriptions. Shame, isn't it? Still, it is really interesting discovery for researchers interested in Hatshepsut reign. The place itself was already known to the local authorities, but so far egyptologists did not study its interior and hieroglyphs. Thanks to this expedition now we know that its was founded during Hatshepsuts reign.

Then "new" temple of Hatsheput - "slightly" different from Deir el-Bahari temple in Thebes :-), photo: W. Ejsmond

"This temple was dedicated to two gods. There is no doubt that one of them was Hathor, with the cult name Lady of Gebelein. The other deity could be Amun-Ra. Unfortunately, his depictions are not preserved and further studies are needed to verify this suspicion," explained to PAP Daniel Takács, a member of the expedition.

But how do scientists come up with Hatsheput name? Out of the blue? It wasn't easy because it seems that in antiquity royal names were already destroyed! Thanks to detailed analysis of fragments of preserved hieroglyphic inscriptions scientists came up with final conclusion -  that must be Hatshepsut!

Daniel Takács (R) and Piotr Witkowski (R) at work, photo: W. Ejsmond

The team directed by Wojciech Ejsmond from University of Warsaw was working in Gebelein under the auspices of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology.

More details on discovery: http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/

Polish egyptologist honoured with "Bene Merito" distinction

Dr Zbigniew E. Szafrański received "Bene Merito" honorary distinction from Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It's conferred upon the Polish citizens and foreign nationals in recognition of their merits in promoting Poland abroad.

From left to right: Dr. Tomasz Waliszewski (PCMA Director), Michał Murkociński (Polish Ambassador in Egypt), Katarzyna Szafrańska, dr. Zbigniew E. Szafrański, dr, Artur Obłuski (director of PCMA - Cairo branch) with his wife Joanna. photo: courtesy of Polish Embassy in Cairo/K. Leśniak.

Dr Szafrański leads the Polish-Egyptian Archaeological-Conservation mission at Hathsepsut's temple in Egypt. From 2005 until 2015 he headed the Cairo Research Centre - foreign branch of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology (PCMA). It's the only Polish research centre in Africa and in the Middle East. Established in 1959 and remain operational without any disturbance ever since. Dr. Szafrański has been working for Polish Center since 1979. He participated in numerous Polish projects in Egypt - among others in Alexandria and Saqqara. During his directorship at Polish Center he organized busy schedule of scientific lectures and seminars.

"His role in strengthening ties with archaeological institutions in Cairo is inestimable and has contributed substantially to promoting Polish archaeology on the international scene", one can read at Cairo's branch PCMA facebook profile.

The ceremony was held in the PCMA residence garden in Cairo on October 19th. Michał Murkociński - the Polish Ambassador handed "Bene Merito" distinction personally.

Anniversary: Polish archaeologists founded field of knowledge thanks to Faras

Exactly year ago amazing gallery featuring medieval painting from Nubian cathedral was reopened in National Museum in Warsaw. Just few days ago researchers organized in this museum conference entitled "Painting from Faras - 50 years in Poland". Here we have another anniversary - 50 years ago over 60 paintings from 8th to 14th centuries happily arrived to Warsaw - on board from Port Sudan on a ship "Monte Cassino".

When professor Kazmierz Michałowski started excavating a hill in Faras in northern Sudan, close to the border with Egypt, he was quite certain that he will dig up pharaohs temple - on the slope he noticed numerous stone blocks covered with hieroglyphs. To his surprise - he uncovered very nicely preserved Christian cathedral. Thanks to these excavations totally new world for researchers was shown. To this point - in 1961 - Nubia was underestimated by numerous scientists who did not expect to find here nothing really interesting. They simply thought that it was boundary of Egyptian civilization, not an independent and amusing world, with its own kingdoms, culture and art. Thats how nubiology started to exist. Today one can admire in Warsaw the only display in Europe presenting Nubian art and cultural artifacts from the Christian period.

Its is worth mentioning that these were rescue excavations. Soon after the archaeological project the whole area was flooded with water piled up by the Aswan High Dam.

"If you have an hour to spare, you can spend 1000 years here" - we are encouraged in museums commercial. Thats a fact. If you cannot visit Poland I have a surprise - here you will find 3D reconstruction of the Faras cathedral. It was prepared really carefully with full support of scientists. Work lasted 3 years. Hope you will enjoy it!

Saint Anna from Faras - VIII-first quarter X century. It used to be part of National Museum in Warsaw logotype. Originally placed in the part of cathedral in which women gathered.