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.
All Saints' Day in my city, Łódź, Poland.
November 1, 2025 at 6:09 PM
All Saints' Day in my city, Łódź, Poland.
We found 11th-century rampart relics below the later #medieval motte castle mound.
And we have to wait for the analyses, especially the radiocarbon dating, to draw more conclusions. This will take until the beginning of next year.
And we have to wait for the analyses, especially the radiocarbon dating, to draw more conclusions. This will take until the beginning of next year.
October 31, 2025 at 8:48 PM
We found 11th-century rampart relics below the later #medieval motte castle mound.
And we have to wait for the analyses, especially the radiocarbon dating, to draw more conclusions. This will take until the beginning of next year.
And we have to wait for the analyses, especially the radiocarbon dating, to draw more conclusions. This will take until the beginning of next year.
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
There are still eight pages to be drawn, as well as the cover picture. 54 finished.
October 7, 2025 at 10:17 AM
There are still eight pages to be drawn, as well as the cover picture. 54 finished.
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.
Some scenes:
The investiture of St Adalbert as bishop of Prague.
The prayer of St Adalbert near a Romanesque round church.
The martyrdom of St. Adalbert.
The investiture of St Adalbert as bishop of Prague.
The prayer of St Adalbert near a Romanesque round church.
The martyrdom of St. Adalbert.
September 23, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Some scenes:
The investiture of St Adalbert as bishop of Prague.
The prayer of St Adalbert near a Romanesque round church.
The martyrdom of St. Adalbert.
The investiture of St Adalbert as bishop of Prague.
The prayer of St Adalbert near a Romanesque round church.
The martyrdom of St. Adalbert.
The cathedral's most important medieval monument is the 12th-century Romanesque bronze doors. They are decorated with scenes from the life of St Adalbert.
September 23, 2025 at 4:14 PM
The cathedral's most important medieval monument is the 12th-century Romanesque bronze doors. They are decorated with scenes from the life of St Adalbert.
Late Gothic portals were also made from artificial stone.
September 23, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Late Gothic portals were also made from artificial stone.
The cathedral was restored and regothicised after the Second World War.
The rich late Gothic sculpture decoration of the pillars' capitals and the vaults' ribs was made of artificial stone - was cast in a special mortar. This was a cheap and efficient solution in areas lacking proper stone.
The rich late Gothic sculpture decoration of the pillars' capitals and the vaults' ribs was made of artificial stone - was cast in a special mortar. This was a cheap and efficient solution in areas lacking proper stone.
September 23, 2025 at 4:14 PM
The cathedral was restored and regothicised after the Second World War.
The rich late Gothic sculpture decoration of the pillars' capitals and the vaults' ribs was made of artificial stone - was cast in a special mortar. This was a cheap and efficient solution in areas lacking proper stone.
The rich late Gothic sculpture decoration of the pillars' capitals and the vaults' ribs was made of artificial stone - was cast in a special mortar. This was a cheap and efficient solution in areas lacking proper stone.
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
She was buried in a way that shows Christian customs had been adopted in the funeral rites, albeit with local modifications. While the cause of her death at a young age is unknown, we do know that her relatives prepared a dignified burial for her.
Research have only begun to shed light on this.
Research have only begun to shed light on this.
August 30, 2025 at 10:37 AM
She was buried in a way that shows Christian customs had been adopted in the funeral rites, albeit with local modifications. While the cause of her death at a young age is unknown, we do know that her relatives prepared a dignified burial for her.
Research have only begun to shed light on this.
Research have only begun to shed light on this.
In addition, two S-shaped temple rings, typical head ornaments worn by Western Slavic women, were found close to the heavily damaged skull.
So, this was the burial of a young woman. She was buried shallowly, which is typical of this cemetery.
So, this was the burial of a young woman. She was buried shallowly, which is typical of this cemetery.
August 30, 2025 at 10:37 AM
In addition, two S-shaped temple rings, typical head ornaments worn by Western Slavic women, were found close to the heavily damaged skull.
So, this was the burial of a young woman. She was buried shallowly, which is typical of this cemetery.
So, this was the burial of a young woman. She was buried shallowly, which is typical of this cemetery.
This is a fragment of an iron knife in a leather sheath that was reinforced and decorated with bronze fittings. Such sheaths were particularly popular among the Western Slavs in the 11th–12th centuries. This one is in extremely poor condition. Conservators will have their work cut out for them.
August 30, 2025 at 10:37 AM
This is a fragment of an iron knife in a leather sheath that was reinforced and decorated with bronze fittings. Such sheaths were particularly popular among the Western Slavs in the 11th–12th centuries. This one is in extremely poor condition. Conservators will have their work cut out for them.
This was an exception to the medieval pan-European custom of burying the dead west oriented, so that they could see Christ returning to the Earth from the east on the Day of Resurrection.
The grave contained ornaments and personal items.
Here is a ring:
The grave contained ornaments and personal items.
Here is a ring:
August 30, 2025 at 10:37 AM
This was an exception to the medieval pan-European custom of burying the dead west oriented, so that they could see Christ returning to the Earth from the east on the Day of Resurrection.
The grave contained ornaments and personal items.
Here is a ring:
The grave contained ornaments and personal items.
Here is a ring:
The skeleton was in a poor state of preservation due to ploughing and bioturbation. The tibia of the left lower limb is not visible in the photograph, but it was found slightly deeper down.
It was arranged on a W-E axis, with the skull on the east side, which is typical of 11th-13th c in Poland.
It was arranged on a W-E axis, with the skull on the east side, which is typical of 11th-13th c in Poland.
August 30, 2025 at 10:37 AM
The skeleton was in a poor state of preservation due to ploughing and bioturbation. The tibia of the left lower limb is not visible in the photograph, but it was found slightly deeper down.
It was arranged on a W-E axis, with the skull on the east side, which is typical of 11th-13th c in Poland.
It was arranged on a W-E axis, with the skull on the east side, which is typical of 11th-13th c in Poland.
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
🏺