Archaeologists uncover early Piast dynasty graves in Łódź Voivodeship

Archaeological excavations in Kwiatkowice, located in the Łask district of the Łódź Voivodeship, have uncovered several graves dating back to the early reign of the Piast dynasty. The project is a collaborative effort involving the University of Łódź, the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum in Łódź, and the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Researchers have examined ten graves, which primarily consist of inhumation burials, though some cremation burials were noted, suggesting a transitional period between pagan traditions and the strengthening of Christianity. Some graves feature stone constructions, which archaeologists indicate were used for members of the elite.

Artifacts recovered from the sites include weaponry such as spearheads and axes found in male graves, while female graves contained items like glass bead necklaces and ornaments. The orientation of the burials—women facing east and men facing west—is consistent with early medieval funerary customs. Two large graves remain to be fully investigated.