Work beneath Frombork Cathedral has brought to light a collection of burial items linked to Warmian canons, including silk garments, cushions and a group of rarely seen chalices.
The excavation is being carried out by the Nicolaus Copernicus Foundation. Several types of liturgical clothing have been recovered. Silk chasubles form the largest group, alongside cassocks and fragments of dalmatics and palliums.
The condition of the fabrics is notable. Much of the material has survived in usable form, which the team links to the stable environment inside the crypt.
Other items include silk cushions and pieces of coffin lining. Taken together, the finds date from the early 18th century through to the early 20th century. Specialists plan to examine the textiles in detail, with attention to weaving methods and the origin of the silk.
The cathedral itself has long served as a burial place. It is associated with Nicolaus Copernicus, whose remains were identified there in 2005. The current project is also looking for the burial of his uncle, Łukasz Watzenrode, though no confirmed location has been identified.
Survey work has been carried out alongside excavation. Ground-penetrating radar has been used to map the subsurface, pointing to additional structures that may relate to earlier burial phases. One possibility under review is the presence of a smaller, older crypt beneath the area now being studied.
Frombork Cathedral contains burials from several periods. Clergy and laypeople were interred beneath the building over centuries. By the late 1600s, the number of graves had become a concern. Records show that limits were later placed on memorials and burial practices inside the church.
A larger shared crypt was introduced in the 18th century. The first burial recorded there dates to 1739, followed by many others. More than 100 individuals are believed to have been placed in that space. Recent work has helped match several coffins to known records.
Parts of the site were damaged in 1945. Some areas of the crypt still require conservation before they can be opened more widely.
Researchers say the work is ongoing and that the current results are only part of a larger study. Further analysis of the materials and continued excavation are expected to clarify how the space was used and who was buried there.
Header Image Credit : Nicolaus Copernicus Foundation
Sources : Science In Poland