Diana Święcka
Archaeologists at the historic Orangery building came across several more burial places of medieval inhabitants of the former parish of Milanów (the former name of Wilanów was Milanów.) The new area of the Wilanów archaeological site has been examined in connection with the need for anti-moisture insulation around the Orangery. Archaeologists conducted research under the direction of Mr Ryszard Cendrowski.
The former church cemetery was located in the area defined by the glazed (southern) wall of the Orangery and reached its southern border up to the planting of the present North Garden. The deceased were probably also buried in the area where a building for citrus trees was erected in the 18th century.
The first burial sites in the area were encountered during renovation work in 1955. The garden area was then formally marked as an archaeological site, which resulted in the beginning of excavations on the area of the former parish cemetery. Subsequent investment works in the Wilanów gardens made it possible to discover and study 491 graves, dating from the 13th to the 17th century.
During this year’s archaeological studies, seven more burial sites were uncovered. Among them, only one of the two female burials contained accessories in the form of glass beads. Blue beads were found around the neck of a young woman. The discovered skeletons were subjected to detailed anthropological analysis and samples were taken for genetic tests. Their results will perhaps answer questions about the origin and relationship of the people who made the history of Wilanów before King Jan III chose the site as his home.
The work is carried out as part of the “Restoration and protection of the symbol of the Polish cultural heritage – the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace in Wilanów” project.
