Published: 2025-12-29

In memoriam Wojciech Piotrowski (1952–2024) – researcher of Biskupin and “wet archaeology” from Poland

Jacek Lech
Archaeologia Polona
Section: Obituaries
DOI https://doi.org/10.23858/APa63.2025.4278

Abstract

Wojciech Piotrowski was born on 25 October 1952 in Warsaw, in the first decade after World War II, when the city was recovering from the ruins. From 1955, he lived with his parents in Zielona Góra (until 1945, the German town of Grünberg), near Poland's new western border. There, he began his primary school education. He read extensively from his school years onwards. Archaeology was popular at the time, and historical themes relating to the Middle Ages were common in novels and in belles-lettres more generally. The year 1966 marked the 1000th anniversary of the baptism of the Polish prince Mieszko I. For the Roman Catholic Church, which then played an important role in the country, it was the millennial anniversary of Christianity in Poland, and for the political authorities controlled by the Soviet Union, which did not see eye to eye with the Church, it was the millennial anniversary of the state. With the creation of the new Polish People's Republic (PRL – officially since 1952, the 'dictatorship of the proletariat'), the country saw a return to the borders of the times of Mieszko I and his son, King Bolesław Chrobry 'the Brave' of the Piast dynasty (who reigned from 992 to 1025).

Keywords:

obituary, Wojciech Piotrowski, Biskupin
Wojciech Piotrowski (1952-2024)

Download files

Citation rules

Lech, J. (2025). In memoriam Wojciech Piotrowski (1952–2024) – researcher of Biskupin and “wet archaeology” from Poland. Archaeologia Polona, 63, 363–394. https://doi.org/10.23858/APa63.2025.4278

Cited by / Share

Licence


This website uses cookies for proper operation, in order to use the portal fully you must accept cookies.