Michał Gawlikowski

Michał Gawlikowski - Polish archaeologist and epigraphist, Professor of Humanities.

Professional career

Professor Michał Gawlikowski is one of the most distinguished Polish archaeologists, he studied under the mentorship of Professor Kazimierz Michałowski.

Archaeological research

He devoted most of his academic career to the study on Palmyra. Between 1973 and 2009, he directed the Polish archaeological expedition to Palmyra on behalf of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology of the University of Warsaw. One of his most important discoveries was the temple of the goddess Allat. A detailed architectural analysis of the temple and a study of the marble statue of Athena found there were published by him in 2017. The expedition also uncovered the hypogea of Zabda and Alaine with tomb reliefs, the building of the principles, a complex of Christian basilicas, as well as several famous objects, including a bas-relief of a lion guarding the temple of Allat, currently on display in front of the National Museum of Damascus.
In 1998, at the invitation of the Syrian Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums, he began rescue excavations in Hawarte. The original aim of the work was to secure the paintings uncovered there, covering the walls of a cave located under the floor of a 5th-century church. Professor Gawlikowski identified the cave as a mithraeum, i.e. a sanctuary of the Persian god of Mithras. He began a long-term archaeological and conservation project on behalf of the PCMA UW, which was completed in 2010.
Between 2014 and 2019, he directed the Saudi-Polish Archaeological Expedition, which investigated a Roman trading post at the Aynuna site, identified as ancient Leuke Kome. The research was carried out in cooperation between the PCMA UW and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.

Academic teaching

He is an experienced academic teacher, supervisor of several dozen master's theses and over a dozen doctoral dissertations, as well as author of habilitation and professorship reviews.

Awards

2003 Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
2016 Prof. Jan Zachwatowicz Award for his achievements in the research and conservation of heritage sites, awarded by the Polish Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)

Positions and functions (selection)

Since 2023, permanent member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
Since 1966, editor-in-chief of the journal and publication series Studia Palmyreńskie
1990–2008, editor-in-chief of the annual Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean
1991–2005 Director of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology of the University of Warsaw
1993–2000 Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Warsaw
1995–2000 Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Department of Mediterranean Archaeology of the Polish Academy of Sciences
1989–1991 Director of the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Warsaw

Publications (selection)

with Dagmara Wielgosz-Rondolino: ', Ancient Near Eastern Studies Supplement Series 64..
with Krzysztof Jakubiak: '. Warszawa: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego, 2022.'.., PAM Monograph Series 8..
with Krystyna Gawlikowska and Przemysław Nowogórski: Palmyra..
with Chalid Al-As'ad: The inscriptions in the Museum of Palmyra: a catalogue..
with Afif Bahnassi, Marek Barański, Maria Krogulska, Aleksandra Krzyżanowska, Kazimierzem Michałowski and Michał Pietrzykowski: '..
with Zofia Sztetyłło: Zarys cywilizacji świata starożytnego..
with Jean Starcky: Palmyre..
with Maria Krogulska: , Palmyre: fouilles polonaises 8..Sztuka Syrii..'..
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