Historical Observations on Archaeology in the Polish People’s Republic, 1945–1989

Abstract

This article represents a personal perspective and the culmination of my experiences in doing archaeological research in the Polish People’s Republic, 1945- 1989. I make observations on various aspects of Polish archaeology including politics, organization, method, and theory. Major changes occurred in archaeology and politics during this period. There was not much Marxism in archaeology in communist Poland. It is important to evaluate this period objectively and dispassionately examining its positive and negative aspects and the specific Polish context.