The graves of criminals in Silesia in the light of recent archaeological research

The present text focuses on analysis of execution sites and graves of criminals explored in south-west Poland, mainly in the area of Lower Silesia. The author describes results of his own research during archaeological excavations, where remains of masonry gallows and graves of criminals have been found. The remains of gallows and executions sites have been discovered in Lubomierz, Jelenia Góra, Złoty Stok, Kamienna Góra and Modrzewie. All gallows were built on a circular plan with diameter up to 6 meters. Historical sources confirm numerous executions on the mentioned sites. With time they have been surrounded by extensive cemeteries for criminals split in two parts – gallows internal area (where many human bones in non-anatomical form were found) and the external area (where graves containing anatomical structure of bones dominated). Nevertheless most of human remains found during excavations were lying in atypical positions. In the middle of gallows in Lubomierz, a double burial containing bodies of two men with arms crossed behind their back and laying with face to the ground has been discovered. Inside the gallows in Jelenia Góra, there was a 35-45 cm layer of human bones, while inside the gallows in Złoty Stok, there was a pit that contained bones of at least two men, litter and a complete skeleton of cat. Close to this gallows there were also two others, partially destroyed burials. One of them contained body laying on its side and another on its back (only a part of trunk without head and arms was saved). In Kamienna Góra, a smaller amount of human remains was discovered. They were clearly affected by later processes and mixed up with animal remains. The gallows in Modrzewie deserves more attention. In comparison to the other objects, this gallows was sporadically used. Only three humans bones were found on this site. All described gallows were explored in the last 10 years