At present, by initiating the project "ANTIQUITAS", we would like to focus on the full reconstruction of selected relics of the Terra sigillata ware, found on the territory of the Polish land. Owing to the experience mastered during designating of fragments of vessels decorated by relief, I have been able to assist Tomek at his work in the area of the reconstruction of stamps used to impress an ornament inside the mould-matrix, or, in some instances, directly on a vessel. The first effect of such cooperation is the reconstruction of the terra sigillata cup (form 27 according to the classification of Dragendorff) signed with the "BIOFECI" producer stamp on the bottom. The relic model for this reconstruction was excavated on the necropolis of the Przeworsk culture in Żerków, Wielkopolskie voivodeship. The potter BIO was producing vessels in the La Graufesenque workshop in Southern Gaul, in Nero and Vespasianus times (the 2nd half of the 1st century A.D.). The letter "B", which was present in the name of the potter, was not impressed on the stamp trace visible on the relic model. Apart from the Terra sigillata, the "ANTIQUITAS" project still covers the production of reconstructed of vessels of inter alia the Przeworsk and Lusitian cultures. One of the most interesting reconstructions are replicas of face-urns of the Pomeranian culture and examples of replicas of the Przeworsk culture urns from the necropolis in Korytnica. At the moment also vessels inspired by the pottery produced on a wheel from the potter-centre from the younger phase of the Roman Period (the 3rd - the 4th century A.D.) in Igołomia, near Cracow, are produced. You can familiarize yourself with the method and conditions of the ware production and with examples of replicas of the Terra sigillata ware as well as other vessels produced on the Polish land in antiquity in our GALLERIES. Since 2003 products of Tomasz Zwierzchowski have been presented within the "Iron Roots" and "Dymarki Świętokrzyskie" archaeological festivals together with vessels of other potters - Dariusz Greń and Krzysztof Dziewientkowski. Since last year you can also see examples of his works in the Ethnographical Park in Tokarnia, in the Potter's Tradition Centre in Chałupki, and even in the Archaeological Museum in Cracow. In 2006 Tomasz Zwierzchowski presented replicas of Terra sigillata also during the Archaeological Festival in Biskupin. Certainly, apart from these above mentioned activities, we are planning to extend the range of production with time, accepting individual remarks, suggestions and orders. To develop our web service, I intend to present on-line the next reconstructions of vessels with pictures of relics, which served as models for them. It may be an opportunity to share the results of research of Terra sigillata found in Poland with network users.

I would like to invite everyone to discuss and cooperate on the subject, recommending the e-mail contact.

Andrzej Przychodni