Kopalnie krzemienia pasiastego w Krzemionkach w czasach funkcjonowania Państwowego Grona Konserwatorów Zabytków Przedhistorycznych (1922–1928) / Striped flint mines in Krzemionki at the times of functioning of the National Circle of Prehistoric Monuments’ Conservationists (1922–1928)
by Katarzyna Ryszewska 
DOI: 10.33547/SeTII.1
In: A. Jedynak (ed.) 2023. Krzemionki. 100 lat od odkrycia (Silex et Ferrum II), pp. 11–30. Sudół – Pękowice: Muzeum Historyczno-Archeologiczne w Ostrowcu Świętokrzyskim/Wydawnictwo Profil-Archeo.
After Jan Samsonowicz’s discovery of striped flint mines in Krzemionki, the initiative in terms of research and attempts to preserve this archaeological site was taken by the activists of the National Circle of Prehistoric Monuments’ Conservationists, working between 1920 and 1928. The archaeological research
in the mine were conducted by Józef Żurowski – conservator of Western Lesser Poland district, Stefan Krukowski conservator of Kielce district together with a delegate Zygmunt Szmit. Józef Żurowski and Stefan Krukowski took also their part in actions concerning the protection of the site being permanently endangered by the exploitation of local limestone deposits. As of 1924, the works were coordinated by Roman Jakimowicz – the manager of the National Circle of Prehistoric Monuments’ Conservationists. Jakimowicz and Żurowski drew up a „memorial” containing the assessment of the state of the mine’s preservation, application for entering them in the register of monuments as well as the project of creating a reserve in the area of the mine. Simultaneously, Stefan Krukowski’s actions led among others to reducing the practices of limestone exploitation along with flint trade and transportation. The above scope of measures constituted the field of cooperation between the conservationists and members of Ostrowiec-based branch of the Polish Tourist Society, under the management of Mieczysław Radwan. This is him, whose initiative led to drawing up a map of a future reserve in Krzemionki. Mutual efforts allowed finally to examine the site preliminarily, reduce the destruction of the historic mine area and mark off the ground under preservation. Following steps aiming at broadening the range of protection along with exploring other areas of the site were taken under the auspices of State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw.