The Jewish Cemetery on Okopowa Street in Warsaw is the site of extensive archaeological work. The research being carried out is part of a type of excavation that is extremely rare worldwide, taking place at an active historic cemetery. All work is being carried out under the supervision of a rabbi and a conservation officer. To date, thousands of artefacts documenting almost 200 years of Warsaw’s history have been discovered.
The Jewish Cemetery in Warsaw – the excavation site
Research at the cemetery on Okopowa Street is being conducted in close cooperation with the Rabbinical Commission for Cemeteries, which ensures compliance with religious law. The integrity of the burials is paramount, which is why excavations are limited to the top layers of soil, usually to around 30–40 centimetres. The Mazovian Provincial Conservator of Monuments and the Cultural Heritage Foundation are also participating in the project. Together, they are developing research methodologies and new standards for archaeological documentation within cemetery grounds, whilst taking into account the requirements of halakha and the needs of science.
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A layer of earth concealing 200 years
For decades, the surface of the Jewish cemetery on Okopowa Street was covered by a thick layer of leaves and humus. Its thickness reached up to several dozen centimetres. Numerous objects related to the cemetery’s operation since its establishment in the 19th century have been preserved in this natural ‘archival layer’. Archaeologists have already unearthed several thousand artefacts across an area of around one hectare. These include everyday objects, fragments of clothing, pottery, glass, as well as elements of the cemetery’s infrastructure, such as brick grave borders and cobbled paths. The finds allow us to reconstruct the realities of social life in the past and burial practices.
The Jewish Cemetery in Warsaw – what has been found?
During the excavations, numerous remnants of the Second World War were also uncovered. Damage caused during fighting is visible on the gravestones, and ammunition, fragments of weapons and unexploded ordnance were found in the ground. At the end of March this year, archaeologists from the company Wykop na Poziomie discovered over 100 7.62 × 25 mm calibre cartridges. The ammunition dated from 1944 and was manufactured by Ammunition Factory No. 541. Cartridges of this type were used in Soviet TT pistols and PPSz and PPS submachine guns. They were found in their original packaging, which is a rare instance of a complete set being preserved.
Other treasures at Okopowa
Work in subsequent sections is also yielding discoveries of a social nature. In the cleared sectors, dozens of previously unknown names of people buried in the cemetery have been revealed. Many gravestones had remained hidden under layers of earth and vegetation for years. Fragments of damaged matzevot have also been uncovered and are currently being documented in detail. The next stage will involve their reconstruction using tools based on artificial intelligence. Analysis of archival photographs and preserved fragments will enable the original appearance of individual monuments to be reconstructed.
The cemetery as a record of Warsaw’s history
The cemetery on Okopowa Street is one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in the world. This should come as no surprise, however, as before 1939 Warsaw was home to the largest Jewish population in the world, second only to New York. The cemetery was established in 1806 and served the local community for over 100 years. Various types of gravestones have survived there, ranging from traditional matzevot aligned east-west to more complex forms, including ohels and family tombs. The finds paint a broad picture of life in the city from the second half of the 19th century through to the interwar period. Among them are coins, alcohol bottles, pharmacy vials and personal items belonging to those visiting the graves. There are also curiosities, such as hiding places used by former robbers to stash their loot, which no one ever returned to collect.
Funding and the conservator’s long-term efforts
Since 2015, the Cultural Heritage Foundation has been responsible for the care of the cemetery, and it has a special fund worth 100 million zlotys at its disposal. The funds come from a fixed capital allocation granted by a state act. To date, nearly 25 million zlotys have been allocated to conservation, research and tidying-up work. The results are plain to see – the condition of the historic necropolis has improved significantly. The removal of years of accumulated soil, wood and leaves, the maintenance of the greenery and systematic research are gradually restoring the clarity of the cemetery’s layout and safeguarding its most valuable elements.
The Jewish Cemetery in Warsaw: the archaeology of memory
The excavations carried out have led to the uncovering of the original ground level of individual sections dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This offers the chance to reconstruct the former paths and accurately identify the layout of the graves. The documentation compiled by archaeologists will form the basis for a comprehensive inventory of the gravestones. This, in turn, will enable further work and the preservation of the memory of those buried in one of Warsaw’s most important cemeteries.
Source: Wykop na Poziomie,warszawa.um.pl
Photos: Wykop na Poziomie for the Cultural Heritage Foundation
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