Geology, Geophysics & Environment
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ISSN 2299-8004
e-ISSN: 2353-0790
Issue Date
2013
Volume
Vol. 39
Number
No. 2
Description
Journal Volume
Geology, Geophysics & Environment
Vol. 39 (2013)
Projects
Pages
Articles
The historical layers of the Lower Silesia towns - the investigations based on historical cartography
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2013) Eysymontt, Rafał
Studies on the historical layers of historical towns belong to the most important stages of <i>Atlas historyczny miast polskich</i> volumes creation. Lower Silesian towns are investigated mainly on a basis of: - written sources, which reference to the real space is often doubtful - archeological explorations, which results should be confronted with source studies - metrological studies, claiming the original medieval concepts according to their geometrical modularity, although those studies are often loaded with big doses of idealism, - studies on historical cartography, which were performed however usually a few hundred years after the town's foundation, in this case the basic method is relating newer plan to an earlier situation called retrogression. The last method could regard one of the most mutable, but most important element of a city's historical structure, which is the river. Two examples of this kind of analysis, referring to two of Lower Silesian different size cities of Wrocław and Milicz can be mentioned in this case. Changes of river system in these cities drastically influenced the shaping of cities and their environment. Much more controversial is an issue of reconstruction based on the oldest 18th century cartography of the road system, which was shaping settlements network around Wrocław. The method of using historical cartography as a source of knowledge about a city's changes is giving the best results in a case of wide modern fortifications' analysis, though it is often only confirmed by archeological research.
Building stones used in early mediaeval edifices of Krakow and geology of the area
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2013) Bromowicz, Jan; Magiera, Janusz
The early mediaeval period witnessed a considerable breakdown in masonry techniques and in architecture in the Polish territory: the application of stone and developing of skills of shaping rocks into regular cuboid stone bricks. Only local stones quarried within a distance of ca. 15 km from Krakow were used in early mediaeval edifices in the city. They were: two varieties of limestones (Upper Jurassic) and three varieties of sandstones of the Carpathian flysch (Cretaceous to Palaeogene). Sedimentary environments (facies) and post-sedimentary processes determined compactness, block divisibility and workability of stones, which, further on, determined their application. Thin bedded sandstone and platy limestone yielded easily workable and relatively small (few to a dozen of centimetres in length) and quite regular bricks used in the earliest buildings. Rocky limestone was a source of irregularly shaped clumps used initially as a filler of walls erected in the opus emplectum technique. Later, it was used also for cutting larger (few tens of centimetres), more regular blocks. Bedded limestone was a good material for obtaining larger (a dozen or two dozens of centimetres) regular bricks used widely throughout the whole early mediaeval period. Blocks (2 or more metres in length) of soft dimension Carpathian sandstone were used for shaping and carving large elements: tombstones, columns, volutes, epitaphs, etc. Techniques of quarrying and stone working developed considerable with time. Initially, slope scree and stone from demolished older ramparts were used. Later, quarries reached deeper beds which yielded larger bricks and blocks. Stone sources 'migrated' with time too. The earliest places of excavation were located within the city, e.g. on the Wawel, Skałka and Krzemionki hills. When those deposits were exhausted, mining moved to more distant spots.
History of the building of the Archaeological Museum in Kraków at the exhibition »The history of the building housing the Archaeological Museum in Kraków«
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2013) Tyniec, Anna
The site currently occupied by the Archaeological Museum in Kraków abounds with finds dating back to the early medieval period. It is located on the edge of the alluvial cone of the Prądnik, a tributary to the Vistula River. In the 9$^{th}$-13$^{th}$ century, the area was contained within the fortified suburbium where a dwelling, productive and commercial settlement developed. After 1612, the land was donated to the Discalced Carmelite Order, and the monastery with the church of St. Michael and St. Joseph were built. In the year 1797, on the strength of the decree issued by the Austrian Emperor Joseph II (from 1782), concerning the dissolution of monastic orders, the Carmelite Order was dissolved, and the church with the monastery were confiscated by the State Treasury to be used as prison and jail cells. In 1954, Kraków authorities donated the complex to serve the needs of the Archaeological Museum in Kraków. The history of the buildings became the topic of subsequent exhibitions.
Analysis of cross-sectional layers of corrosion using metallographic microscope
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2013) Szala, Barbara; Greiner-Wronowa, Elżbieta; Kwaśniak-Kominek, Monika
The aim of this study was to identify and recognize the phenomena of corrosion between glass-metal connections. Experiments were carried out on historical and contemporary samples treated with corrosion catalysts and the results helped to identify the most corrosive conditions for historic objects. Microscopic observations were carried out on cross-sectional layers of specially prepared samples of enamel on copperplate, corresponding to the chemical composition of historic samples-enamel from Limoges. Subsequently, a series of techniques were implemented improving the quality of the image. A 20-micron thick corrosion layer can be observed and recorded using this method. Observations allowed to determine the quality and technology aspects of the enamel exposed to the processes. The diagnosis of corrosion processes is extremely important in order to determine the application technique of enamel on the metal substrate. Microscopic images therefore revealed the formation of corrosion products. This proved an efficient and effective way to provide information on the thickness, color and structure of the observed layers. Micro-photographs from a metallographic microscope allowed for further planning and the subsequent use of a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) and Raman Spectrometer (RS) - mitigating the need for the analysis of the entire sample's surface. Most corroded places have been identified and the metal proved to be more reactive material. The impact of factors such as: the technique of layering the enamel, structural inclusions, pitting corrosion, temperature and the environment's impact have been clearly linked to the overlap of the corrosion processes.
The influence of trade contacts on grave equipment of Gniew community in the 14th-18th century
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2013) Grupa, Małgorzata; Krajewska, Magdalena; Majorek, Magdalena; Kozłowski, Tomasz
Richness and variety of grave equipment (silk textiles, scapulars, crosses, rosaries and the other objects), revealed during archaeological exploration carried out in St. Nicolas church in Gniew and in the area of the former graveyard, confirmed trade contacts of local community with Western Europe and Asia. Grave finds (wreaths, various flowers) as well as silk garments give evidence that the town and the area dwellers belonged to wealthy social classes. Close relations with many trade centers and luxurious items imported from them had an apparent influence on preserving rich and ceremonial burial rites against obligatory sumptuary law forbidding splendor. Moreover, these multi-direction trade and social contacts had also an impact on spreading out pathogenic microorganisms and transmissive diseases, syphilis, among the others.