Niedziela, 30 sierpnia 2026, Imieniny: Benona, Jowity, Szczęsnego PL EN | |

 
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  2. Routes to the Past. 30 years of polish rescue excavations
  3. Rescue Archaeology in Poland. Introduction

Rescue Archaeology in Poland. Introduction

Rescue excavations (often referred to as pre-development surveys) are a specific type of archaeological work carried out at sites under immediate threat of destruction.

Unlike planned excavations, where researchers select a site based on specific research questions, rescue excavations are dictated by the location and schedule of the development project.

Why are these excavations taking place?

The main reason is to protect cultural heritage from construction projects. Under Polish law, if archaeological sites are found in the location earmarked for development, the developer is obliged to fund surveys that will „save” knowledge about the site before it is irreversibly altered.

The most common situations requiring rescue excavations:

  • The construction of motorways and expressways.
  • The construction of new housing estates or office blocks.
  • The construction of pipelines, gas pipelines, and power lines.
  • The revitalization of town squares and historic townhouses.

Elements of the rescue excavation process

This exhibition is truly exceptional on the Polish museum scene. Thanks to a unique collaboration between nine institutions – the country’s most important museums and leading research centres – we have created rare and cohesive collection of over 1,250 artefacts from rescue excavations carried out during the last 30 years. This unprecedented collaboration has made it possible to present, in one place, treasures that are normally scattered across storerooms and institutes throughout the country.

The exhibition concept deliberately avoids a traditional chronological structure. Instead, it guides visitors through four main thematic routes, defined by the context and the reason why archaeologists had to step in.