Jerzy Sikora
@jsikora.bsky.social
Fornleifafræðingur (mostly medieval) based at University of Łódź (wutɕ).
Archaeology, Middle Ages, some photos I take and drawings I make.
Archaeology, Middle Ages, some photos I take and drawings I make.
Pinned
Jerzy Sikora
@jsikora.bsky.social
· Nov 18
I'm always a little worried when I try to introduce myself as an archaeologist of the early Middle Ages, because the early Middle Ages end in Polish historiography around 1250.
We only have the Early and Late Middle Ages. We've lost the High Middle Ages somewhere.
🤷♂️
We only have the Early and Late Middle Ages. We've lost the High Middle Ages somewhere.
🤷♂️
All Saints' Day in my city, Łódź, Poland.
November 1, 2025 at 6:09 PM
All Saints' Day in my city, Łódź, Poland.
After a supplementary survey based on sampling with a motor auger, we can conclude that the ring-fort in #Spycimierz was not built on elevated terrain, which was common for most early medieval strongholds in lowland Poland. It was built on the plain bottom of the river valley.
October 31, 2025 at 8:48 PM
After a supplementary survey based on sampling with a motor auger, we can conclude that the ring-fort in #Spycimierz was not built on elevated terrain, which was common for most early medieval strongholds in lowland Poland. It was built on the plain bottom of the river valley.
Sampling in #Spycimierz, Central Poland.
Spycimierz is an 11th–13th-century timber ring-fort that was converted into a motte-and-bailey castle in the 14th century.
#archaeology
#medievalsky
Spycimierz is an 11th–13th-century timber ring-fort that was converted into a motte-and-bailey castle in the 14th century.
#archaeology
#medievalsky
October 28, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Sampling in #Spycimierz, Central Poland.
Spycimierz is an 11th–13th-century timber ring-fort that was converted into a motte-and-bailey castle in the 14th century.
#archaeology
#medievalsky
Spycimierz is an 11th–13th-century timber ring-fort that was converted into a motte-and-bailey castle in the 14th century.
#archaeology
#medievalsky
I'm still working on my comic book about Bolesław Krzywousty and the conquest of Pomerania. This time it's a scene from his palace with mural paintings depicting scenes from the Piast dynastic legend. It is slightly based on the Premyslid legend depicted in the round church in Znojmo.
October 7, 2025 at 10:11 AM
I'm still working on my comic book about Bolesław Krzywousty and the conquest of Pomerania. This time it's a scene from his palace with mural paintings depicting scenes from the Piast dynastic legend. It is slightly based on the Premyslid legend depicted in the round church in Znojmo.
Gniezno Cathedral: Built in the 14th century on the site of a much smaller, older #Romanesque church. It was the seat of the #medieval Archdiocese of #Poland and the country's principal church.
It was reconstructed in the Baroque style in the 17th century after being destroyed by fire in 1760.
It was reconstructed in the Baroque style in the 17th century after being destroyed by fire in 1760.
September 23, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Gniezno Cathedral: Built in the 14th century on the site of a much smaller, older #Romanesque church. It was the seat of the #medieval Archdiocese of #Poland and the country's principal church.
It was reconstructed in the Baroque style in the 17th century after being destroyed by fire in 1760.
It was reconstructed in the Baroque style in the 17th century after being destroyed by fire in 1760.
Although the excavations in Ostrowite are officially finished for this year, that doesn't mean that our research is over. We still plan to drill a little more. Stay in touch!
#Ostrowite25
#Ostrowite25
September 14, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Although the excavations in Ostrowite are officially finished for this year, that doesn't mean that our research is over. We still plan to drill a little more. Stay in touch!
#Ostrowite25
#Ostrowite25
Today, our excavation team found itself at the heart of events connected with the Russian drone attack on Poland. Fortunately, we didn't encounter any drones, but we could observe NATO air force activity over our trench.
#Ostrowite25
#Ostrowite25
September 10, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Today, our excavation team found itself at the heart of events connected with the Russian drone attack on Poland. Fortunately, we didn't encounter any drones, but we could observe NATO air force activity over our trench.
#Ostrowite25
#Ostrowite25
We're still excavating! Just look at this remarkably well-preserved Roman-period brooch!
#Ostrowite2025
#Ostrowite2025
September 10, 2025 at 8:23 PM
We're still excavating! Just look at this remarkably well-preserved Roman-period brooch!
#Ostrowite2025
#Ostrowite2025
September 4, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Do you remember the skeleton that emerged when the topsoil was removed? We now know a little more about this burial.
Please note that photos of the skeleton will appear below. If you are easily upset, now would be a good time to stop reading.
#Ostrowite25
#archaeology
#medievalsky
🏺
🧵
Please note that photos of the skeleton will appear below. If you are easily upset, now would be a good time to stop reading.
#Ostrowite25
#archaeology
#medievalsky
🏺
🧵
August 30, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Do you remember the skeleton that emerged when the topsoil was removed? We now know a little more about this burial.
Please note that photos of the skeleton will appear below. If you are easily upset, now would be a good time to stop reading.
#Ostrowite25
#archaeology
#medievalsky
🏺
🧵
Please note that photos of the skeleton will appear below. If you are easily upset, now would be a good time to stop reading.
#Ostrowite25
#archaeology
#medievalsky
🏺
🧵
The state of preservation of the archaeological objects in Ostrowite: the photo shows a fragment of a human skull. Apart from a piece of the right femur, this is all that remains of a #medieval (11th-13th c) burial that was destroyed by agricultural work.
#Ostrowite25
#archaeology
🏺
#Ostrowite25
#archaeology
🏺
August 27, 2025 at 8:04 AM
The state of preservation of the archaeological objects in Ostrowite: the photo shows a fragment of a human skull. Apart from a piece of the right femur, this is all that remains of a #medieval (11th-13th c) burial that was destroyed by agricultural work.
#Ostrowite25
#archaeology
🏺
#Ostrowite25
#archaeology
🏺
During the exploration of the cultural layer, bronze braided circles were found. They are likely to have been part of a larger ornament. The chronology is unknown. It is probably from the early Iron Age.
#Ostrowite25
#Archaeology
🏺
#Ostrowite25
#Archaeology
🏺
August 22, 2025 at 11:24 AM
During the exploration of the cultural layer, bronze braided circles were found. They are likely to have been part of a larger ornament. The chronology is unknown. It is probably from the early Iron Age.
#Ostrowite25
#Archaeology
🏺
#Ostrowite25
#Archaeology
🏺
Medieval graves in Poland tended to be buried more shallowly than the burials of the Wielbark culture from the Roman period. At Ostrowite, they lie directly beneath the arable soil. Most of them are heavily damaged, both mechanically by ploughing and chemically by fertilisation.
#archaeology
🏺
#archaeology
🏺
August 21, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Medieval graves in Poland tended to be buried more shallowly than the burials of the Wielbark culture from the Roman period. At Ostrowite, they lie directly beneath the arable soil. Most of them are heavily damaged, both mechanically by ploughing and chemically by fertilisation.
#archaeology
🏺
#archaeology
🏺
We have launched the sieving workshop and the bucket service. They are operating at full capacity. There are several tonnes of cultural layers to be sieved. As you can see in the photo, the darker layer needs to be removed and sieved; the lighter layer can stay.
#archaeology
#Ostrowite25
🏺
#archaeology
#Ostrowite25
🏺
August 21, 2025 at 11:54 AM
We have launched the sieving workshop and the bucket service. They are operating at full capacity. There are several tonnes of cultural layers to be sieved. As you can see in the photo, the darker layer needs to be removed and sieved; the lighter layer can stay.
#archaeology
#Ostrowite25
🏺
#archaeology
#Ostrowite25
🏺
August 19, 2025 at 7:50 AM
August 18, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Tomorrow, I will start my 18th research season at the multi-phase site of Ostrowite in northern Poland. The site contains relics from the late Palaeolithic to the late medieval period. What will this season bring? We'll see!
#archaeology
#archaeology
August 16, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Tomorrow, I will start my 18th research season at the multi-phase site of Ostrowite in northern Poland. The site contains relics from the late Palaeolithic to the late medieval period. What will this season bring? We'll see!
#archaeology
#archaeology
On my way back to Poland, I stopped in Naumburg to see its cathedral, which combines a late Romanesque nave with French Gothic choirs. The western choir, dating from around 1250–1260, was one of the first Gothic realisations in the Holy Roman Empire.
🧵
#medievalsky
🧵
#medievalsky
August 15, 2025 at 9:35 AM
On my way back to Poland, I stopped in Naumburg to see its cathedral, which combines a late Romanesque nave with French Gothic choirs. The western choir, dating from around 1250–1260, was one of the first Gothic realisations in the Holy Roman Empire.
🧵
#medievalsky
🧵
#medievalsky
How could it have been done without modern tools? Do you want us to believe that medieval cathedrals were built by semi-wild primitives who lived in huts made of sticks and mud and who could only go on crusade?
We're not fools, you gatekeepers!
We're not fools, you gatekeepers!
August 15, 2025 at 9:10 AM
How could it have been done without modern tools? Do you want us to believe that medieval cathedrals were built by semi-wild primitives who lived in huts made of sticks and mud and who could only go on crusade?
We're not fools, you gatekeepers!
We're not fools, you gatekeepers!
I'm moving back to Poland, which means that my great medieval adventure is coming to an end. I'm currently in Wissembourg, in the Alsace region of France. The abbey church of Saints Peter and Paul dates back to the 13th century and features a Romanesque tower and a small chapel.
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
August 13, 2025 at 9:19 AM
I'm moving back to Poland, which means that my great medieval adventure is coming to an end. I'm currently in Wissembourg, in the Alsace region of France. The abbey church of Saints Peter and Paul dates back to the 13th century and features a Romanesque tower and a small chapel.
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
Fleury abbey.
The most striking thing is that the Benedictine congregation there is still active and the abbey is still in use!
#medievalsky
The most striking thing is that the Benedictine congregation there is still active and the abbey is still in use!
#medievalsky
August 13, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Fleury abbey.
The most striking thing is that the Benedictine congregation there is still active and the abbey is still in use!
#medievalsky
The most striking thing is that the Benedictine congregation there is still active and the abbey is still in use!
#medievalsky
August 12, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Now that we have seen the place where Henry II and Richard the Lionheart were buried, it is time to visit one of their favourite residences. Castle Chinon.
#medievalsky
And a place even the king visits on foot (as we say in Poland).
#medievalsky
And a place even the king visits on foot (as we say in Poland).
August 11, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Now that we have seen the place where Henry II and Richard the Lionheart were buried, it is time to visit one of their favourite residences. Castle Chinon.
#medievalsky
And a place even the king visits on foot (as we say in Poland).
#medievalsky
And a place even the king visits on foot (as we say in Poland).