Archaeologists working in the outer courtyard of Wawel Royal Castle, near the site of the former Gothic Church of St. George, have uncovered three children’s burials and a fragment of a weapon.
Excavations in the area began in early May with the primary goal of verifying a long-standing hypothesis: that beneath the ruins of the 19th-century-demolished Gothic church of St. George may lie an even older, early medieval church bearing the same dedication.
Initial discoveries, however, brought different findings. As Prof. Andrzej Betlej, Director of the Wawel Royal Castle, told the Polish Press Agency (PAP), archaeologists located three children’s graves near the former church’s presbytery, likely dating back to the 17th century. A weapon fragment—currently undergoing conservation—was also found. Preliminary assessments suggest it may be a type of short sword or kord.
“The work is ongoing, and we’re hopeful more will be uncovered. There is a strong possibility that we may confirm the hypothesis and perhaps even locate the early medieval church,” said Prof. Betlej.
These excavations build on research last conducted in 1965, when archaeologists discovered historical remnants suggesting the presence of an older structure beneath the later Gothic church. Recent ground-penetrating radar surveys at Wawel have helped identify key areas for renewed archaeological investigation.
This is the latest in a series of significant discoveries made at Wawel in recent years. In 2023 and 2024, excavations carried out ahead of the construction of a new underground visitor route revealed a 12-meter section of an early medieval rampart dating to the 11th century, remains of a hearth, and numerous everyday objects—including clay pipes, a bird-shaped flute, coins, clothing accessories, and metal ornaments.
Archaeological research at Wawel began in earnest in the 1950s. Over the decades, excavators have unearthed a wealth of artifacts: weapons used by early defenders of the hill, kitchenware, cutlery, cake molds, shoes, toys, smoking pipes, devotional items, glass inkwells, compasses, and various instruments.
Many of these finds can now be viewed in the permanent exhibitions Wawel Town and Between the Walls: Wawel Underground.
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