Speeches

Archaeology of the Płock "sedes regni principalis" – an assessment attempt
Instytut Archeologii i Etnologii PAN

The year 2025 marks 200 years since the first excavations in Płock - the search for the graves of Władysław Herman and Bolesław Krzywousty. Archaeological research, intensive in the 1960s and 1990s, is still ongoing. The following text attempts to summarize the current state of knowledge and possibilities of interpreting the results of archaeological research, including both older ones and discoveries made in recent years. Particular emphasis will be put on the issue of the beginnings of the stronghold, both in the context of the "tribal" settlement of Mazovia and the formation of early state structures. The spatial and structural changes of the Płock stronghold will be characterized. The question of Płock church foundations – important, given the role of Płock as both princely and episcopal residence – will also be presented. Eventually, the position of Płock in the communication network of the Piast state will be briefly discussed.

2025-09-18 11:30-12:00, MPPP, MPPP1