Currently, the House of the Passionists at Hradčany, the future seat of the Museum of the Memory of the 20th Century, is being reconstructed and will house our permanent exhibition from 2025. Parallel to the construction works, a rescue archaeological research under the direction of archaeologist Pavla Tomanová from the Institute of Archaeology of the CAS, Prague, v. v. i. began at the end of January 2024. It reveals how the palace was rebuilt over time and how its layout changed.
On the site of today's one-storey four-winged palace there were three Gothic town houses in the Middle Ages, which were destroyed by fire in 1541. Archaeologists have managed to capture the layers that were probably created as a result of this fire as well as isolated remains of the original medieval buildings. In addition, the excavation has yielded evidence of prehistoric settlement, specifically from the period of the linear pottery culture (Neolithic, 5300-4900 BC), from the Younger to Late Bronze Age (1200-700 BC). More abundantly represented is the Early Medieval period, from the 9th-12th centuries. The revelation of older settlements, albeit fragments, is very valuable for the overall reconstruction of the development of the settlement of Hradčany from prehistoric times to the modern period, as most of the evidence of older settlements was removed during construction activities in the second half of the 16th and 17th centuries.
Interesting finds from the medieval period include fragments of the so-called Loštice cups. These are ceramics produced from the end of the 14th century to the middle of the 16th century in Loštice in Moravia. A specific and at the same time identifying feature is the surface of the vessels covered with small blisters. This effect is due to the addition of almandine, which was purposefully added to the ceramic mass. The resulting colouring was achieved by means of engobe, which contains iron minerals and flux, which together during firing cause the formation of typical bubbles. Remains of tile stove bases or fragments of relief tiles have been discovered from the period of the House of the Piazzas.
The discovery of a Sparta cigarette box from the last major renovation of the House of Pážat in the 1980s is proof that every era leaves its mark. But that's more for interest.
Archaeological research will continue in the coming months and we look forward to sharing more valuable discoveries with you.
📷 ARÚ; photogrammetric image by Michal Kotek