Zegrze. Forgotten Town on the Narew river

On September 13, 2020, a temporary exhibition Zegrze. Forgotten Town on the Narew river. was opened in the pavilion of the Historical Museum in Legionowo. The inspiration for this exhibition was the archaeological research carried out in 2017 in the former parish cemetery in Zegrze. The relics and information obtained during the excavation became the reason to conduct wider historical research on this charming town situated on the high bank of the Narew river.

The time frame of the exhibition covers the period from the end of the 6th century to the end of the 19th century basing on the age of items discovered in the parish cemetery and those from older archaeological research from the vicinity of Zegrze. The closing date is 1890, when the construction of the Zegrze fortress began thus the local population was displaced and replaced by the Russian army.

The oldest relics presented at the exhibition come from the 6th century and are related to early Slavic settlements. These include - a unique clasp discovered in Rajszew and a Praga-type vessel from Nieporęt. The exhibition is complemented by items discovered in the stronghold in Serock, including a silver Arabic dirhem from the 11th century and decorations from the cemetery in Nieporęt. These relics come from the collections of the State Archaeological Museum.

Archaeological research carried out in the former parish cemetery in Zegrze has brought many finds that were owned by the people buried there. The oldest relic discovered in this place is a temple ring from the 13th century. It was part of the equipment of a female grave. Moreover, in the nearby of that grave, a fragment of a structure made of fieldstones was uncovered, which could constitute the foundation of the first church in Zegrze. The custom of depositing various kinds of items in graves has been known for millennia. It is associated with belief in an afterlife and is a manifestation of the spirituality of a given community. Many burials in the Zegrze cemetery were equipped with cult items: medals and crosses. The custom of putting them in graves, although already known in theMiddle Ages, became common in the 17th century.

The unique monuments from the Zegrze necropolis include two travel altars from the first half of the 19th century. Both were made in Russian workshops specializing in this type of products.

Ornaments and elements of clothing were also discovered in the graves. This category of items includes glass bead necklaces, rings, hook-and-eye closures and buttons made of bone, bronze, lead and iron.

All the items described above, often small and exquisitely made, can be viewed closely while visiting the temporary exhibition Zegrze. Forgotten Town on the Narew river

Translated by Ada Modrzejewska