Łomża – A Journey Through the Centuries Archaeological Exhibition
PLACE
UL. DWORNA 22C
The exhibition features selected archaeological and numismatic artifacts that illustrate the material and spiritual culture of the inhabitants of Old Łomża and the present-day city. All the objects come from collections obtained through rescue excavations, archaeological supervision, donations from Łomża residents, and, in the case of numismatics, also through purchases.
The chronological scope of the exhibition covers the period from the first appearance of humans along the Narew River
— in the 9th millennium BC up to the 20th century. The artifacts are divided into thematic sections: flint and horn objects, tools and weapons, clay vessels, glass, clothing, leather, devotional items, coins, tiles, historic buildings, and a treasure.
The place associated with the beginnings of the city is the prominent edge of the Narew River valley in Old Łomża, where in the 9th century an open settlement was established. It developed rapidly thanks to its location along a trade route. In the early 11th century, the settlement was fortified with ramparts, forming a stronghold. It is not known when the two sub-settlements (suburbs) were added. The stronghold was eventually burned down.
In the 12th century, a new stronghold was built on the same site, which existed until the mid-13th century, when it was destroyed during a Lithuanian invasion. The site is unique in terms of its construction — there is no other like it in Poland. Various early medieval artifacts originate from this location.
Equally interesting materials were obtained from an extensive cemetery that functioned from the Middle Ages until the 18th century on St. Lawrence Hill in Old Łomża, as well as from Rybaki, Dworna, and Długa Streets, and the Old Market Square.
Among the unique finds are a primitive cattle horn core with the imprint of a yoke, fragments of clothing interwoven with gold thread (15th/16th century), a belt end fitting from the time of St. Bruno of Querfurt (11th century), a pendant from Gotland — evidence of Viking presence in the Łomża region (11th century), and very rare denarii from the mid-16th century and a button-shaped bracteate dated to the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries.
A unique group of artifacts comes from the treasure discovered at Góra Strękowa. It includes Arab coins – dirhams, as well as silver ornaments – temple rings and beads from the 10th century.
Thanks to numerous reconstructions, models of a Mesolithic camp and the stronghold, and the multimedia presentation “A Walk with an Archaeologist through Łomża,” the exhibition offers high educational and informational value.
