The remains of an unknown building were discovered on the grounds of the Museum of King Jan III's Palace in Wilanów

The foundations of a previously unknown building have been identified in Morysin Park, within the grounds of the Museum of King Jan III's Palace in Wilanów. It may have been a caretaker's house, as it was located at the intersection of two roads leading to the Hunting Palace and the adjacent farmstead, explain UKSW archaeologists.

The Hunting Palace in Morysin is one of the newest architectural monuments within the palace and garden complex associated with Wilanów Palace. It was the main structure of the park complex in Morysin, planned by Aleksandra Potocka, née Lubomirska, and Stanisław Kostka Potocki, but knowledge about it remains incomplete.

The Hunting Palace was completed in 1811, and in subsequent years, subsequent owners added the Oraculum (in 1825), the Neo-Gothic Gate (in 1846), the Caretaker's House, and the Gamekeeper's Lodge (both circa 1850). Plans from the mid-19th century show three additional buildings in the immediate vicinity of the Hunting Palace, but they are not mentioned in other sources. The ruins of two of these buildings are still visible in the field, but the location of the third was unknown.

In the first half of 2025, the Museum of King Jan III's Palace at Wilanów commissioned a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) analysis of the Morysin area, combined with the calibration of historical plans. This identified the likely location of the now-vanished building. The next step was to survey the site and the surrounding area of the preserved architectural relics surrounding the Hunting Palace.

The researchers used non-invasive geophysical prospecting tools – ground-penetrating radar and a magnetometer. The research was conducted by Dr. Fabian Welc from the Institute of Archaeology of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw.

According to Professor Fabian Welc, the results of non-invasive reconnaissance confirmed the existence of the foundations of a previously existing building. It measured approximately eight meters by four meters, with a small extension on the south side. However, the shape and size of this building correspond to the existing remains of the other two structures. They had a solid foundation made of chipped stones, on which remnants of a brick wall were noted. The first building was likely occupied by servants who served guests of the Hunting Palace – the remains of a furnace were noted within its boundaries – while the second was a utility building. At this stage of research, the function of the missing building remains unknown. It may have been a caretaker's house – it was located at the intersection of two roads leading to the Hunting Palace and the adjacent farmstead.

"Near the ruins of farm buildings, fragments of pottery were discovered on the ground, dating back not only to the contemporary period but also to earlier times, dating back to the early modern period, i.e., the 15th century. This may indicate that settlement began earlier in this area," emphasized Dr. Rafał Solecki, project coordinator.

The characteristic location of the building remains on small, local elevations – terps – suggests that the oldest settlements here may be associated with the Olęders, settlers from the Netherlands. Their settlement in the areas along the Vistula River dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries.

"It cannot therefore be ruled out that Stanisław Kostka Potocki, when organizing the park in Morysin, chose a site for the construction of the Hunting Palace and its surroundings that already offered favorable conditions for such an investment. Thus, new structures were erected on older mounds, and likely foundations as well," added the project coordinator.

Verification of this thesis will be possible in the future, during planned conservation work on these objects.

The research was co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, from the Cultural Promotion Fund – a state special-purpose fund. (PAP)

Science in Poland

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