
The commission is organising the conference “Archaeology Gone Astray: Forgeries, Misinterpretation, and Other Field Stories” in Łódź (Poland), the 12-13 September 2025.
Conference website: https://archaeo-astray.sciencesconf.org
Calenda announcement: doi: 10.58079/14jzx
Program
Conference opening
Forgeries, Misinterpretations, and Other Field Stories
- Tim Murray (University of Melbourne). Archaeologies as wished for. The power of ‘alternative’ histories
- Eliska Petrekova (Masaryk University Brno, Department of Archaeology and Museology). When the Artist Restores the Artifact: The Case of the Painted Vases from Ceglie in Baron Koller’s Collection
- Jakub Linetty (Museum of the First Piasts at Lednica). Mysterious Slavic Universe of Tadeusz Wolański
- Adrianna Szczerba (University of Lódź). Slavic Runes in Dispute: From 19th-Century Polemics to Contemporary Revivals
- Marzena Woźny (Archaeological Museum in Kraków). Gotfryd Ossowski (1835–1897) and the archaeological forgery from the Mnikowska Valley
- Anna Juga-Szymańska (University of Warsaw. Faculty of Archaeology). Don’t believe your eyes. The alleged files of Włodzimierz Antoniewicz
- Sébastien Plutniak (CNRS, France). On the Scientific Fringes of Archaeology: the Contents and Reception of Open and Unsupervised Scholarly Communication Platforms
- Bartłomiej Wyrwas (University of Lódź). Misreadings in Polish Archaeology: A Selection of Examples
Current research projects
- Margarita Díaz-Andreu (ICREA and University of Barcelona). Lost melodies: a history of the archaeological study of music and sound
- Santiago Olcina Lagos. (University Institute for Research in Archaeology and Historical Heritage, University of Alicante). The dissemination of pre-Hispanic archaeology at the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition in Seville: a first approach
- Ludwika Jończyk (Faculty of Archaeology, University of Warsaw, Justyna Liguz, Kwidzyn Castle). Investigating the investigator: Herbert Heym and the afterlife of unpublished East Prussian research
- Harald Gropp (ZAW Heidelberg). Nebra and Coligny and the discussion of archaeoastronomical artefacts
Poster session
- Petr Kostrhun (Moravian Museum). Moravian Glozel
- Harald Gropp (Heidelberg University). Basic material on the sky disc of Nebra and the calendar of Coligny
- Harald Gropp (Heidelberg University). Local archaeological activities vs. official excavations
- Magdalena Malak (Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń). Roman Jakimowicz (1889-1951) – first Director of the State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw and the first head of the Department of Prehistory at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. But what else?
Discussion and Conference summary
Commission of the History of Archaeology UISPP regular meeting
For UISPP members.
Call for paper
This conference, titled “Archaeology Gone Astray: Forgeries, Misinterpretations, and Other Field Stories”, is dedicated to the less glorious—but undeniably fascinating—chapters in the history of archaeology. We’ll delve into everything from notorious forgeries and spectacular blunders to interpretive dead ends and moments of… let’s say, excessive enthusiasm in the field.
The event offers a space for reflection, self-reflection, and a bit of humor—because, like any living science, archaeology sometimes takes a wrong turn. Yet, even when it goes astray, it always leads to something interesting.
While the main theme centers on the field’s twists, turns, and detours, the program will also feature an open session for participants who wish to present their current research projects.
Łódź
Conference venue
Institute of Archaeology, University of Lodz, Lodz (Poland). Established in 1945, the institute is one of Poland’s centers for archaeological research and education.
Łódź and the history of archaeology
For many years, Łódź has been one of the key centers for research into the history of archaeology in Poland. It was in this city that Andrzej Abramowicz (1926–2011) carried out his scholarly work. As one of the first archaeologists in the country to reflect deeply and systematically on the development of his discipline, Abramowicz left a significant intellectual legacy: 12 books (including a three-volume memoir), nearly 60 articles, and 28 reviews — which remain foundational for the study of Polish archaeology’s history. His major works include: The Age of Archaeology: Problems of 19th-Century Polish Archaeology (1967), Urns and Ceraunia (1978), the three-volume History of Antiquarian Interests in Poland (Vol. I – 1983, Vol. II – 1987), History of Polish Archaeology: 19th and 20th Century (1991), and History of Polish Archaeology: Beginnings (1992). Beyond his writings, Abramowicz also mentored a generation of scholars, helping to sustain and expand research on the history of archaeology both within and beyond the Łódź archaeological community.
Communication
The official language of the conference are English and French. Only one lecture can be accepted for each(registered) participant. However, the same participant may submit several posters. Please indicate their number precisely on the Registration Form.
The conference will be held in a hybrid format, allowing both in-person and online participation. However, please note that priority will be given to in-person presentation.
Abstraction submission
For abstract submission, please use the submission procedure on the conference website.
Oral presentations and posters are possible.
- Oral presentations are expected to be 20 minutes in length, with an additional 5 minutes for discussion. Slides should be prepared in a common format (e.g., PPT, PPS, PDF).
- Posters should be planned in standing (portrait) orientation, and their size must not exceed A0 (841 x 1189 mm).
Deadline for submissions: 15 August 2025
Organisation committee
- Adrianna Szczerba (Institute of Archaeology, University of Lodz, member of the UISPP Commission on History of Archeology, adrianna.szczerba@uni.lodz.pl)
- Marzena Woźny (Archaeological Museum in Cracow, Vice-president of the UISPP Commission on History of Archeology, marzenawozny@ma.krakow.pl)
- Jakub Linetty (Museum of the First Piasts in Lednica, member of the UISPP Commission on History of Archeology, jakub.linetty@lednica.pl).
Publication
The papers will be published in the open-access, peer-reviewed journal Archaeologia Polona.


Excursion, 13th of September



Participants will have the opportunity to explore Lodz, often referred to as the “Polish Manchester” for its 19th- and 20th-century textile industry. The city’s history has been shaped by the coexistence of four cultures—Polish, Jewish, German, and Russian—each of which has left a lasting imprint on its architecture and heritage.
During Poland’s political and economic transformation in the 1990s, Lodz faced significant challenges. The city’s once-thriving textile industry, which had been the cornerstone of its economy, largely collapsed, leading to widespread economic and social struggles. Despite these setbacks, Lodz has gradually reinvented itself.
Today, the city’s post-industrial landscape seamlessly merges with its rich multicultural past, as former factories have been transformed into museums, galleries, and creative hubs, reflecting Lodz’s ongoing cultural revival. At the core of this revitalization are the city’s 21 higher education institutions, including 6 public universities, which have played a central role in driving innovation and shaping the city’s reinvention.
This call on Calenda.
OpenEdition suggests that you cite this post as follows:
histarcheo (May 25, 2025). “Archaeology Gone Astray: Forgeries, Misinterpretation, and Other Field Stories”. UISPP Commission on the History of Archaeology conference, 12-13 September 2025, Łódź (Poland). Historical Studies of Pre & Protohistoric Archaeology. Retrieved June 14, 2026 from https://doi.org/10.58079/140d7

