Archaeological excavations in Żarska Cave (Żary, Krzeszowice commune, Kraków district) in 2011

Archaeological excavations in the Żarska Cave, carried out in 2011 yielded artefacts dated to the Eneolithic (Baden culture), the Roman Period (Przeworsk culture), the Middle Ages and the post-Medieval period. The fieldworks were focused on the terrace situated in front of the cave entrance (trench 1/2011), but some works were also conducted in the main chamber of the cave, where recent piles of earth were sifted. Both of the two stages of the survey led to the revealing of artefacts including fragments of pottery single flint artefacts and faunal remains. It is worth noting the discovery of human remains, which suggests the presence of a burial site, probably located primarily in the cave’s interior. The results of works conducted in 2011 indicate that the earlier opinions which assumed the lack of archaeological artefacts in the Żarska Cave should be revised. The excavations will be continued.