Polish drought dishes up treasures
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
03.09.2015 15:08
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Elżbieta Krajewska finds that Poland's heat wave has provided a feast for archaeologists
The River Vistula is at its record lowest level, revealing many priceless relics that may have been underwater for centuries.
Archaeologists survey the riverbed of the Vistula in Warsaw. Photo: PAP/Jacek Turczyk
The latest pieces which have been recovered in Warsaw are fragments of decorations from a 17th century marble portal - possibly from the Kazimierzowski Palace, and another load of war spoils which invading Swedes lost to the river in 1655.
On the list of relics uncovered in Warsaw are also architectural fragments of the previous Poniatowski Bridge, blown up in wartime, a pre-war barge that was a popular partying spot for the capital's clubbers, elements of the old water supply system, and some eighteenth century glass bottles which some say might be left-overs from the so-called "Thursday dinners" for artists, intellectuals, architects, politicians and statesmen that were held by last king of Poland Stanisław August at the Royal Palace which overlooks the river.
Elżbieta Krajewska reports.