District Museum in Sandomierz
Poznan Archaeological Museum
Polish Chess Federation

Invitation to participate in

Interdisciplinary Conference on

The cultural role of the game of chess over centuries

The honorary patronage of the conference:
prof. Andrzej Buko, Director, Institute of  Archaeology  and Ethnology Polish Academy of Sciences
Jerzy Borowski, The Mayor of Sandomierz

Poland - Sandomierz, May 25-26, 2012
The jubilee of the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the Sandomierz chess

In 2012 half a century will have passed since the discovery in Sandomierz, Poland, of a mediaeval chess set. It has been housed in  District Museum in Sandomierz since 1980 and is one of its most valuable archaeological exhibits. Various chess pieces and even complete sets dating several centuries back are known from museum exhibitions and private collections all over the world. However, most often they lack the context or even reliable information about the place of their finding and so belong to the group of beautiful, spectacular artefacts that more often than not offer no full cognitive possibilities as a source of scientific study. The Sandomierz find is thus one of the few stunning discoveries, not just because it comprises two almost complete sets (with only four pieces  missing) but also because it was made during regular excavation work and is fully documented.

The jubilee makes one reflect on the impact of the find on the scholars’ awareness of the subject, the state of research of games and chess in particular, and the use of the possibilities of scientific analysis in the study of the subject. District Museum in Sandomierz in cooperation with  Poznan Archaeological Museum and Polish Chess Federation, wishing to highlight the importance of the find invites you to participate in Interdisciplinary Conference. We will be happy to welcome representatives of all disciplines of science who would like to present their own studies into the role played by chess in the history of European culture from the Middle Ages until present.

The sessions will be open and will take place over two days: the 25th-26th of May, 2012.  Please note that the conference materials will be published  separately.

Together with the conference a chess tournament is planned by Polish Chess Federation. Poznan Archaeological Museum has prepared an exhibition entitled  Chess in the Middle Ages – the Middle Ages in chess which will be presented in District Museum in Sandomierz from May to June 2012. Along with the exhibition there will be a chance to admire the original Sandomierz chess pieces which are otherwise closely guarded in the Muzeum’s treasury.

Declarations of papers (on the application form enclosed) with a short abstract (up to 1000 characters) must be sent in by the 30th of January 2012, by post or e-mail to the address:

Agnieszka Stempin
Poznan Archaeological Museum
Ul. Wodna 27
61-781 Poznań
Tel. 61 8528251 ext. 238
Mail: agnieszka.stempin@muzarp.poznan.pl

DECLARATION OF PARTICIPATION

Conference fee: PLN 70 (20 €)

The organizers would like to stress the necessity of providing in the application form the necessary information concerning hotel reservation, since booking  accommodation in Sandomierz must be done much in advance.

Secretaries of the conference:

Monika Bajka
District Museum in Sandomierz
ul. Zamkowa 12
27-600 Sandomierz
Tel. 15 6445757 ext. 38
e-mail: archeolog@zamek-sandomierz.pl

Agnieszka Stempin
Poznan Archaeological Museum
Ul. Wodna 27
61-781 Poznań
Tel. 61 8528251 ext. 238
e-mail: agnieszka.stempin@muzarp.poznan.pl

Dorota Rzepecka
Polish Chess Federation
Aleje Jerozolimskie 49
00-697 Warszawa
Tel. 22 8414192
e-mail: d.rzepecka@pzszach.org.pl