Kształtowanie się definicji i zakresu badań archeologii w encyklopediach polskich

• Autorzy: Wrońska-Kowalska J.

Warianty tytułu

EN

The evolution of the definition and the scope of archaeological research in polish encyclopedias

• Języki publikacji: PL

Abstrakty

EN

The article attempst to give an assessment to the evolution and change in the scope of archaeological research as evidenced in encyclopaedic entries. Eighteen Polish encyclopaedias were analyzed, published in the years 1859-1939. The entries for ARCHAEOLOGY in those publications were compared with entries in other European encyclopedias of the period; the comparison did not show any differences between the entries in the two groups of publications. Apart from the analysis of material on archaeology, an insight into the evolution of this science can be gained from the comparison of the definitions of related domains of research and learning such as ethnography, anthropology, or history of art. The analysis shows that in the nineteenth century, the terms: archaeology, antiquity and antiquarianism, were used interchangeably. It was not until the 1890s that the term prehistory was introduced, which had a narrower scope, relating to periods in which writing remained unknown. The beginnings of archaeology as a science based on a specific methodology were associated with J. Winckelmann, and those of prehistory - Boucher de Perthes. As for Polish archaeology, its beginnings were linked with the person of H. Kołłątaj. The encyclopaedic entries analyzed indicate that the distinction between archaeology and history of ancient art began to be made only in the 1860s. It was then that archaeology began to direct its attention to finds that were not necessarily spectacular but testified to everyday life in the past. At that time archaeology lacked precise methods for the acquisition and description of sources. The entries stated only that archaeology was concerned with the investigation of the styles (types) of the objects that belonged to the past of various nations. In the 1870s the "material" character of the sources was stressed; it was also emphasized that that inspiration for the establishment of Polish archaeology had come from the revival of national feelings. The entries, however, did not provide information on the new dating of the oldest traces of man. The term prehistory, to describe the period before written records were available, began to feature in the encyclopaedias only in 1890s. The use of this term was followed by information on the long chronology of humankind (relating e.g. to the research of Boucher de Perthes and G. Mortillet). The largest number of materials on the subject of archaeology as perceived in the nineteenth century can be found in successive editions of of Orgelbrand's "Encyklopedia powszechna" [Universal Encyclopaedia] and the unfinished "Wielka encyklopedia powszechna ilustrowana" [The Great Illustrated Universal Encyclopaedia] which appeared at the break of the century. The latter encyclopaedia provided the best and fullest entry descriptions, based on the theory of evolution and written by such eminents scholars as L. Krzywicki, T. Korzon and Z. Gloger. It is quite difficult to provide a more profound assessment of the development of archaeological research, and the ways in which it was influenced by currents in sociology and philosophy, exclusively on the basis of encyclopaedic entries. Such entries are formulated in quite a laconic way and the authors concentrate on factographic data. More knowledge on the subject can be gained from the latest studies in the field, especially the works of A. Abramowicz.

Słowa kluczowe

PL

encyklopedia; archeologia; starożytność

EN

encyclopedias; archeology; antiquity

• Wydawca: Instytut Historii Nauki im. L. i A. Birkenmajerów Polskiej Akademii Nauk
• Czasopismo: Kwartalnik Historii Nauki i Techniki
• Rocznik: 1999
• Tom: R. 44, nr 3/4
• Strony: 53--88
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 18 poz.

Twórcy

autor

Wrońska-Kowalska J.

• Warszawa