Niedźwiedziówka

Back then, it was locaded at the mouth of one arm of the river on the floodplain – today it lies inland. Since the 1970s archaeological research has been conducted here and the place has been recognised as an important centre for amber working dating back to the early Neolithic (3100-2400 B.C.). Amber deposits were left by seawater on the flooded shores and were collected and processed from spring to autumn by the then craftsmen of the Elbląg Upland. Estimates indicate that there were about 900 amber workshops packed here in an area of 1 sq. km, which means that we are dealing with the world’s oldest and largest amber processing centre known to science. Amber from Niedźwiedziówka was first taken near Sandomierz (southern Poland). From there it was sent further to Central and Southern Europe. Trade exchange made amber enormously popular in the south, which resulted in its appearance in the Mycenaean civilisation (1600-1100 A.D.), the most famous ruler of which was Agamemnon – the legendary Trojan War veteran. Archaeological research in Niedzwiedziówka is carried out every year in July, which is also the time to visit this world-famous amber working centre.