Tomaszowska Ekspedycja Archeologiczna w Mierzynie w latach 1972–1976

Abstract

The article deals with a brief history of the Tomaszów Mazowiecki Archaeological Expedition, known as “TEA” and refers to a group of young people (not professional archaeologists) engaged in cooperation with the local museum in Tomaszów Mazowiecki in the 1970s. The group of young enthusiasts was led by thirty-year-old archaeologist Stanislaw Marcin Gąsior, an employee of the museum in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, and the collaboration involved the active participation of the teenagers in excavations. Years later, the author of the article attempted to recall (based on the memories of the participants) the social “movement” that was important for the history of the Tomaszów museum. The article describes the formation of the TEA and the history of its collaboration with the museum [as an early and unique example of an archaeological community outreach project in Poland]. The events presented in the paper are analysed in the context of the village of Mierzyn and its inhabitants in the 1970s. The article also contains photos that are a part of the rich collection of photographic material and illustrations documenting the TEA project.