Sługocinek: Wayside Crosses and Archaeological Traces

Sługocinek combines three wayside crosses with archaeological traces spanning many centuries. The periods represented range from the Late Mesolithic to part of a late-medieval village; at the same time, one of the crosses commemorates the site of a chapel dating from the 1860s. Thus, alongside a settlement history reaching far back into the past is a clearly located chapter of more recent local history. If you are looking for a holiday apartment and are interested in local history, this cultural focus may be a good reason to take a closer look at Sługocinek as a destination.

Wayside Crosses and the History of the Chapel

There are three wayside crosses in the village. One stands beside the voivodeship road, on the site of an old chapel. The landowner Chmielewski endowed the chapel in the 1860s; it was destroyed by the Germans during the Second World War. The cross and the former place of worship are two things from different periods: the cross stands on the site of the chapel, but is not the same as the chapel. The chapel’s endowment in the 19th century and its later destruction can therefore be distinguished from the history of the wayside cross.

Archaeological Traces Through Time

At the Sługocinek archaeological site, site 13, the sequence of periods includes a Late Mesolithic campsite and a Neolithic settlement of the Funnel Beaker culture. It also includes a settlement of the Lusatian culture dating from the end of the Bronze Age to the Early Hallstatt period, a settlement of the Przeworsk culture from the Early Roman Imperial period, an early medieval settlement, and part of a late-medieval village. Campsite, settlements, and village section refer to different archaeological categories. The sequence thus spans many periods and includes more than one kind of settlement trace. Each of the three named settlements also has a cultural attribution in addition to its chronological classification: Funnel Beaker, Lusatian, and Przeworsk cultures indicate this perspective, while the period labels provide an additional chronological context for the traces. Cultural affiliation and dating therefore remain distinct aspects.

Findspot 1 offers a different perspective: residential buildings there are attributed to the Late Pre-Roman Iron Age through the Roman Imperial period. Excavations in Sługocinek also uncovered remains of residential buildings and traces of economic activity. The two sites have different emphases: site 13 brings together several settlement phases spread across a long period, while site 1 focuses on residential buildings from a more narrowly defined period. The archaeological history of the area can thus be considered both in terms of its periods and the different traces of human activity.

Bus Planning for 2026

The funding agreement signed on 13 January 2026 covers a bus route from Sługocinek to Kraśnica via Barbarka, Spławie, and Golina. It concerns subsidized routes for 2026. If you are considering taking this route to get there, check the timetable for your travel date in advance.

Discover more destinations: Kawnice-Kolonia, Wiśniewa, Brzeźno, Skulsk, Ślesin, Osowce, Julia, Sompolinek

For the broader travel overview: Konin.