Archaeology restores
memory of KL Plaszow
Archaeological studies constitute one of the ways to restore the memory of KL Plaszow. They make it possible to discover and document material remains from the years 1942 – 1945.
The currently preserved fragment of the former KL Plaszow concentration camp consists of 40 hectares of green area in the center of the city. Many Kraków citizens and tourists treat it as a recreational area. They are not aware of the history of this place as they have never learned it.
In the years 2016-2017, a comprehensive archaeological field survey of the former camp premises was undertaken as part of a project entitled 'Developing the Study Concerning the Custody of Krakow Memorials with KL Plaszow' as part of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków Memory Route, organized by the Museum and financed by funds from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage as well as the Kraków Urban Commune.
The specificity of archaeological studies concerning material traces from the not-so-distant past makes it possible to use and analyze the unique collection of sources concerning the camp (archival photographs, plans, witness accounts). Primarily, the studies were aimed at determining the level of preservation of the camp area as well as identifying the modifications which it has undergone since the war.
Acting so as to preserve maximum authenticity of the place and with respect to its historical, social and cultural context, non-invasive methods were selected to be applied during the fieldwork, which would not affect the historical area directly. The most important part of the project - the excavation works - constituted a complementary element of the works.
The first stage of the works consisted in the preparation of complete field documentation. An orthophoto map was amongst other techniques used, creating a detailed image of the surface of the area, developed based on aerial photographs. A numerical model of the grounds was then created based on a LIDAR scan. The application of both techniques made it possible to analyze the surface of the area in view of the possibility to determine the remains of archaeological relics, such as the levelling for subsequent barracks or excavations. It enabled partial clarification of the location of foundations in subsequent buildings as well as other camp structures. pod poszczególne baraki czy wyrobiska. Umożliwiło to częściowe doprecyzowanie lokalizacji fundamentów poszczególnych budynków i innych konstrukcji obozowych.
Kamil Karski
All photos courtesy of the Historical Museum of City of Kraków