Papers by Jerzy Siemaszko
Studia Archaeologica Sudauica II, 2019
The Yatvingian Archeological Festival in Szwajcaria,
near Suwałki. A summary following 15 edition... more The Yatvingian Archeological Festival in Szwajcaria,
near Suwałki. A summary following 15 editions
and 20 years of the event
The barrow cemetery of Sudovian Culture dated to the Roman Period and the Migration Period in
Szwajcaria, on the present-day outskirts of Suwałki, is one of the most valuable and significant archaeological
sites in northeastern Poland. In the years in 1955–1966 it was excavated within the archeological
expedition supervised by Jerzy Antoniewicz, PhD from the State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw.
In 1959, the “Yatvingian Cemetery” Natural Reserve was established for more effective protection of this
valuable cultural heritage of Suwałki Region. The excavation works conducted in Szwajcaria initiated
foundation of the Comprehensive Yatvingian Expedition.
In 1999, i.e. four years after the success of the Archeological Festival in Biskupin, the Museum in
Suwałki decided to organize workshops on experimental archeology on the premises of the former base
of the Comprehensive Yatvingian Expedition, in the vicinity of the famous burial ground. At the turn of
the centuries, the Festival held in Szwajcaria near Suwalki was very ground-breaking. The event was
a great success with nearly 3,500 visitors participating in the first two-day edition. In this situation, the
organizers decided to hold the Festival on regular basis every year. It was resolved that the Festival in
Szwajcaria should have a unique local character related to the history of the Western Balts who inhabited
the northeastern territories of Poland in prehistory and early Middle Ages. The name was changed into
the “Yatvingian Archeological Festival in Szwajcaria”. From the beginning, the organization of the event
was supported by volunteers. The contribution of these young people gathered around the Archaeological
Club at Suwałki Regional Museum was invaluable. In addition, inspired by the previous editions of
the Festival, in 2002 the association of warriors “Pera Sudinoi” Yatvingian Brotherhood was formed in
Suwałki and since that time they have provided the Festival with the significant organizational support.
Many ideas and postulates of this group were implemented successfully. “Pera Sudinoi” Association attracted
an increasingly larger crowds of warriors from all over Poland and Lithuania. Simultaneously,
outstanding experts from “Pajauta” Club of Experimental Archeology based in Lithuania started to participate
in the Festival, and since then they have become an important foreign partner.
Starting from 2000, every festival has featured a performance about selected events from the history
of the Balts or general scenes of everyday life in prehistory and the Early Middle Ages. The concerts of early
and folk music inspired by prehistoric motifs, that have been organized since 2001, are also very popular.
However, all additional attractions cannot reduce the significance of the fact that the main objective
of the Yatvingian Archaeological Festival in Szwajcaria is to promote the knowledge in the field of archeology.
The performers have always played the most significant role, as they convey relevant knowledge in
a very accessible and attractive way during interaction with the audience.
Financial problems forced the Regional Museum in Suwałki to suspend the event in the period between
2013 and 2018. In 2019, the Festival was re-established with the support from Interreg Lithuania-
Poland within the European Regional Development Fund, project No. LT-PL-3R-205 “Heritage you
leave behind”. The same fund will provide financing of the 2020’s edition. However, the future of the
Yatvingian Archaeological Festival in Szwajcaria, Suwałki Region, in the following years is not known.
Kurier Konserwatorski, 2018
Popular article about Early Mesolithic Kunda Culture site at Miłuki, NE Poland. During the excava... more Popular article about Early Mesolithic Kunda Culture site at Miłuki, NE Poland. During the excavation carried out on wet area, on the bank of the lake remains of a hut with preserved organic materials were discovered.
European Journal of Archaeology, 1999
Books by Jerzy Siemaszko
Jaćwieskie eldorado, 2021
Broszura poświęcona wystawie pt. Jaćwieskie eldorado. Na ekspozycji w atrakcyjny sposób zaprezent... more Broszura poświęcona wystawie pt. Jaćwieskie eldorado. Na ekspozycji w atrakcyjny sposób zaprezentowano rewelacyjne znaleziska z cmentarzyska wczesnośredniowiecznego kultury jaćwieskiej w Krukówku na Suwalszczyźnie. W folderze zawarto okoliczności odkrycia, historię badań i niezwykle bogate znaleziska. Teks kończy rozdział poświęcony zwyczajom pogrzebowym Jaćwingów.
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Papers by Jerzy Siemaszko
near Suwałki. A summary following 15 editions
and 20 years of the event
The barrow cemetery of Sudovian Culture dated to the Roman Period and the Migration Period in
Szwajcaria, on the present-day outskirts of Suwałki, is one of the most valuable and significant archaeological
sites in northeastern Poland. In the years in 1955–1966 it was excavated within the archeological
expedition supervised by Jerzy Antoniewicz, PhD from the State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw.
In 1959, the “Yatvingian Cemetery” Natural Reserve was established for more effective protection of this
valuable cultural heritage of Suwałki Region. The excavation works conducted in Szwajcaria initiated
foundation of the Comprehensive Yatvingian Expedition.
In 1999, i.e. four years after the success of the Archeological Festival in Biskupin, the Museum in
Suwałki decided to organize workshops on experimental archeology on the premises of the former base
of the Comprehensive Yatvingian Expedition, in the vicinity of the famous burial ground. At the turn of
the centuries, the Festival held in Szwajcaria near Suwalki was very ground-breaking. The event was
a great success with nearly 3,500 visitors participating in the first two-day edition. In this situation, the
organizers decided to hold the Festival on regular basis every year. It was resolved that the Festival in
Szwajcaria should have a unique local character related to the history of the Western Balts who inhabited
the northeastern territories of Poland in prehistory and early Middle Ages. The name was changed into
the “Yatvingian Archeological Festival in Szwajcaria”. From the beginning, the organization of the event
was supported by volunteers. The contribution of these young people gathered around the Archaeological
Club at Suwałki Regional Museum was invaluable. In addition, inspired by the previous editions of
the Festival, in 2002 the association of warriors “Pera Sudinoi” Yatvingian Brotherhood was formed in
Suwałki and since that time they have provided the Festival with the significant organizational support.
Many ideas and postulates of this group were implemented successfully. “Pera Sudinoi” Association attracted
an increasingly larger crowds of warriors from all over Poland and Lithuania. Simultaneously,
outstanding experts from “Pajauta” Club of Experimental Archeology based in Lithuania started to participate
in the Festival, and since then they have become an important foreign partner.
Starting from 2000, every festival has featured a performance about selected events from the history
of the Balts or general scenes of everyday life in prehistory and the Early Middle Ages. The concerts of early
and folk music inspired by prehistoric motifs, that have been organized since 2001, are also very popular.
However, all additional attractions cannot reduce the significance of the fact that the main objective
of the Yatvingian Archaeological Festival in Szwajcaria is to promote the knowledge in the field of archeology.
The performers have always played the most significant role, as they convey relevant knowledge in
a very accessible and attractive way during interaction with the audience.
Financial problems forced the Regional Museum in Suwałki to suspend the event in the period between
2013 and 2018. In 2019, the Festival was re-established with the support from Interreg Lithuania-
Poland within the European Regional Development Fund, project No. LT-PL-3R-205 “Heritage you
leave behind”. The same fund will provide financing of the 2020’s edition. However, the future of the
Yatvingian Archaeological Festival in Szwajcaria, Suwałki Region, in the following years is not known.
Books by Jerzy Siemaszko
near Suwałki. A summary following 15 editions
and 20 years of the event
The barrow cemetery of Sudovian Culture dated to the Roman Period and the Migration Period in
Szwajcaria, on the present-day outskirts of Suwałki, is one of the most valuable and significant archaeological
sites in northeastern Poland. In the years in 1955–1966 it was excavated within the archeological
expedition supervised by Jerzy Antoniewicz, PhD from the State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw.
In 1959, the “Yatvingian Cemetery” Natural Reserve was established for more effective protection of this
valuable cultural heritage of Suwałki Region. The excavation works conducted in Szwajcaria initiated
foundation of the Comprehensive Yatvingian Expedition.
In 1999, i.e. four years after the success of the Archeological Festival in Biskupin, the Museum in
Suwałki decided to organize workshops on experimental archeology on the premises of the former base
of the Comprehensive Yatvingian Expedition, in the vicinity of the famous burial ground. At the turn of
the centuries, the Festival held in Szwajcaria near Suwalki was very ground-breaking. The event was
a great success with nearly 3,500 visitors participating in the first two-day edition. In this situation, the
organizers decided to hold the Festival on regular basis every year. It was resolved that the Festival in
Szwajcaria should have a unique local character related to the history of the Western Balts who inhabited
the northeastern territories of Poland in prehistory and early Middle Ages. The name was changed into
the “Yatvingian Archeological Festival in Szwajcaria”. From the beginning, the organization of the event
was supported by volunteers. The contribution of these young people gathered around the Archaeological
Club at Suwałki Regional Museum was invaluable. In addition, inspired by the previous editions of
the Festival, in 2002 the association of warriors “Pera Sudinoi” Yatvingian Brotherhood was formed in
Suwałki and since that time they have provided the Festival with the significant organizational support.
Many ideas and postulates of this group were implemented successfully. “Pera Sudinoi” Association attracted
an increasingly larger crowds of warriors from all over Poland and Lithuania. Simultaneously,
outstanding experts from “Pajauta” Club of Experimental Archeology based in Lithuania started to participate
in the Festival, and since then they have become an important foreign partner.
Starting from 2000, every festival has featured a performance about selected events from the history
of the Balts or general scenes of everyday life in prehistory and the Early Middle Ages. The concerts of early
and folk music inspired by prehistoric motifs, that have been organized since 2001, are also very popular.
However, all additional attractions cannot reduce the significance of the fact that the main objective
of the Yatvingian Archaeological Festival in Szwajcaria is to promote the knowledge in the field of archeology.
The performers have always played the most significant role, as they convey relevant knowledge in
a very accessible and attractive way during interaction with the audience.
Financial problems forced the Regional Museum in Suwałki to suspend the event in the period between
2013 and 2018. In 2019, the Festival was re-established with the support from Interreg Lithuania-
Poland within the European Regional Development Fund, project No. LT-PL-3R-205 “Heritage you
leave behind”. The same fund will provide financing of the 2020’s edition. However, the future of the
Yatvingian Archaeological Festival in Szwajcaria, Suwałki Region, in the following years is not known.