Czech archaeologists uncover 17th‑century black kitchen in Brno convent

Archaeologists in Brno have uncovered a well‑preserved black kitchen inside the former Voršilky convent on Josefská Street. The 120 × 140 cm space, dating from the mid‑17th century when the building housed Franciscan nuns, was discovered during renovation work. "After removing a layer of debris and ash we found a largely intact black kitchen," said Ondřej Navrátil of the Archaia archaeological society. The kitchen, once used for open‑fire cooking and later walled up in the late 18th or early 19th century, will be conserved as the convent is transformed into a mixed‑use complex with shops, apartments and offices.

Separately, the Archaeological Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences is exhibiting a lavish 5th‑ to 6th‑century Langobard clothing clasp discovered near Znojmo by detector hobbyist Zita. The gold‑silver, garnet‑inlaid pin, described by institute director Balázs Komoróczy as "extraordinarily beautiful," joins a collection of similar artifacts from the Migration Period displayed at the Roman exhibition in Pasohlávky. Komoróczy emphasized the productive collaboration between archaeologists and detectorists, noting that such finds enrich understanding of early medieval Central Europe.

Both discoveries highlight the rich material culture of the Czech lands and are set to be publicly showcased later this year.