e-mail: iaekrak@archeo.pan.krakow.pl

IGolomia Station

At Igolomia (ca 20 km east of Cracow), at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries a palace was erected by the Wodzicki family, according to the design of  P.Ch. Aigner. The palace is surrounded by a vast park in the so-called English style. The edifice possesses all the features of the neo-classical style. There is a portico at the main entrance and a round ballroom, a big dining room and parlours on the ground floor.

Until World War II the palace changed its owners several times. At the beginning of 1950s, the building, together with the park, was taken over by the Polish Academy of Sciences. After a thorough renovation it was adapted to the needs of the Archaeological Station, as a part of the Cracow Branch of the Institute of the History of Material Culture (now the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology).

The main programme of the scientific activity of the Archaeological Station at Igolomia is devoted to the prehistory of the loess uplands of Western Malopolska (Little Poland). At present, field surveys are being conducted to complete a map of prehistoric and early-historic settlements in this area. This study is part of a special project, the Polish Archaeological Record (AZP). The station is also conducting excavations, surveys and theoretical researchs.

The main approach of the studies is interdisciplinary. The research team, apart from archaeologists, includeds a palaeobotanist and a palaeozoologist. The research is focused on the relationship between humans and the prehistoric environment. Analysed plant remains recovered during archaeological excavations make it possible to reconstruct agricultural activities in the past. They are helpful in studying several botanical issues, such as migration of wild plants and the history of cultivated plants. Palaeozoological research, based on bone refuse and skeletons from animal graves, provides precious information about the role of animal husbandry and hunting in various periods of prehistory. This research also addresses questions of interst to zoologists.

Materials from archaeological excavations conducted on loess uplands of Western Malopolska, and stored in Archaeological Station at Igolomia, have scientific value for archaeology, anthropology, dendrology, mineralogy, and other sciences.

Prepared by dr. Krzysztof Tunia