HRABIANKI SZEMBEKÓWNY - PIONIERKI ARCHEOLOGII WIELKOPOLSKIEJ Z PRZEŁOMU XIX I XX WIEKU

Abstract

Archaeological interests o f the Szembek earls from Siemianice near Kępno (southern Wielkopolska) have spread over many generations starting from the middle o f the 19th century until the present time. This is well exemplified by activities o f Jadwiga (1883-1939) and Zofia (1884-1974) Szembek. In the years 1897-1908, both sisters undertook systematic and model excavations o f the multicultural cemetery (-ies) at Siemianice near Kępno (Bronze Age 11, Bronze Age V - HaD; the Late La Téne - Early Roman Iron Age) and cemetery at Lipie near Kępno (Bronze Age V). Jadwiga Szembek excavated also multicultural settlement at Tarnowica near Jaworów (western Ukraine) in 1924 and 1927. An origin and development o f archaeological interests o f the Szembek sisters, along with a detailed analysis o f their field works, was reconstructed on the basis o f unpublished archive materials and old literature o f the subject. Assessment o f their achievements in this field, according to both previous and current criteria, made possible to support opinion by Prof. Józef Kostrzewski who rated the Szembek sisters among archaeologists o f the most outstanding merit before 1918.