1977, archaeological research on the culture of the Goths in Hrubieszów Valley started. Information about excavations in Masłomęcz quickly hit the front pages of the press. Each year numerous international delegations visited - leading scientists, many students and casual enthusiasts.
In 2002 the excavations ended, Masłomęcz had again become a simple village – or not? Today Masłomęcz is a very specific place, because it combines past and present.
In 2007 a (re)construction of Goth dwelling as discovered in Hrubieszów was built. The (re)constructed house is based on information obtained in the course of archaeological research in Hrubieszów-Podgorze, under guidance of prof. dr hab. Andrew Kokowski - director of the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Lublin. Much general information about the range of Gothic architecture comes from research carried out among others in Ukraine.
The house in Masłomęcz has a clear division into two. The western part of the original was equipped with a clay oven for heating. The whole room (11 x 11m) had a wooden floor. The wall construction was based on poles, about 2 feet apart. The entrance must have been in the southwestern corner. The eastern part of the building was fully supported by lightweight pillars. This part could have served as animal pens. The arrangement of columns inside the building indicate the roof was asymmetrical. There is also a high probability of the existence of an additional storey (floor) with ladder.
The (re)construction in Masłomecz is in scale 1:2 and inspires the local inhabitants greatly. Once it was built the local government decided to spend some money to organize a few projects. From one day to another, inhabitants from Masłomecz (3 generations) became Goths, presenting ancient crafts like weaving and making & firing ceramics.
And so in 2008, a society was formed, the “Masłomęckie Stowarzyszenie Wioska Gotów” (the Maslomecz Society Goth's Village“). The main purpose of the Society is to develop an archaeological open air museum with live size constructions of Goth dwellings, workshops and a grave field. The group decided to take up the preservation of the cultural heritage of its immediate surroundings in a very own way. 2010, the “team of Goths” has about 30 people, and the interest in joining the Gothic community is growing.
Educational activities include teaching about old crafts and the rich past of the region. The education teams also work with disabled children in the Hrubieszów district. Promotional activities are designed to add to the tourist offer in the region The Goth theme here in South Eastern Poland attracts yearly thousands of visitors. Here, you will find a Gothic route, which combines the archaeological open-air museum with its cultural and natural environment. The Goth Team is regularly invited to liven up public events throughout the province. They are a recognisable asset to the area. The Goth craft products they make have become sought after. Periodically they organise events which include combat and staged demonstrations of religious rites.
Scientific activities include experimentation with for example firing pottery. This work is presented in conferences and publications. The group also organises academic lectures in cooperation with the Institute of Archaeology University in Lublin and the Museum “im. ks. St. Staszica” in Hrubieszów. The Society is not ready yet at all. Active in many fields, their ambition is to build a full size archaeological open air museum.
