Wielka Waga na krakowskim Rynku w świetle badań archeologicznych

THE GREAT SCALES IN MAIN MARKET SQUARE IN KRAKOW IN THE LIGHT OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH The archaeological survey carried out in the area of the Great Scales in Main Market Square (Rynek Główny) in Kraków in the years 2005–2006 brought a wide range of interesting results. It was established that a wooden structure had existed to the west of the Church of St Adalbert as early as in the second half of the 13th century. Developed in two stages, the building had housed a device for weighing metals. The structure of the building was partially recognized, and its floors were also documented, corresponding with the levels of the earliest two cobbled surfaces in the post-charter Kraków. A quadrangular building was unearthed, erected after the wooden scales had been filled in and before a stone and brick structure having the same function was built; that building was interpreted as a provisional location for the weighing device, converted into a metal storage after the stone and brick building had been finished. The orientation of the two wooden buildings was confirmed to have agreed with the axes of the pre-charter buildings (dating back to the Early Middle Ages), such as the nearby Church of St Adalbert, or St Mary’s Basilica. The relics of the stone and brick Great Scales were unearthed; based on the stratigraphic analysis and the historical objects found at the excavation site, the origin of the Great Scales is roughly dated to the middle of the 14th century. The successive utility levels were distinguished, connected with the function of the building of the Great Scales during the Middle Ages as well as in the modern era. The historical items discovered within the area of the Great Scales included pieces of metals which were classified as sources of information about the activities which had been carried out while weighing metals, and such other fragments that apparently point to previously unknown production processes. Following their detailed specialist tests, these objects may contribute to broadening our knowledge of the past methods of obtaining precious metal.