KAMIL ZEIDLER, MACIEJ TRZCIŃSKI, „WYKŁAD PRAWA DLA ARCHEOLOGÓW” Wolters Kluwer Polska, 2009

The book market has recently witnessed the appearance of an exceptional publication written by two outstanding lawyers and comprising a complex presentation of legal regulations associated with archaeology. This is the first such work issued in the past few years wholly concerned with the legal aspects of the activity of archaeologists in Poland. In accordance with the accepted construction of the book its authors first discussed archaeology against the backdrop of the legal protection of historical monuments, laws concerning museums as well as numerous other regulations. The second part of the publication focuses on the most prominent international documents pertaining to archaeology, with particular attention paid to the European convention on the protection of the archaeological heritage, signed by Poland. The book ends with an examination of selected problems associated with the profession of an archaeologist, including training, ethics and the popularisation of archaeology. The greatest asset of ”Wykład prawa dla archeologów” is its depiction of an extensive legal context. The authors did not limit themselves to selected regulations of the statute of 23 July 2003 on the protection of historical monuments but also identified all other regulations which archaeologists could encounter in their daily work, scattered throughout the entire domain of law and relating to, i.a. maritime economy, arms and ammunition, cartography, as well as roads and highways. The book also delves into the controversial question of the turnover involving archaeological monuments. Let us note that the authors did not merely list the regulations but also proposed their own assessments, often formulating critical comments and their own stand on such contemporary controversial issues as the definition of the archaeological monument. The complex outline of legal problems concerning archaeology portrays the range of the system of the protection of monuments, disclosing its gaps and eventual lack of cohesion and, at times, also a disturbing lack of effectiveness. The reviewed publication may contribute to improving the legal awareness of the widely comprehended milieu of archaeologists and indubitably enhance the outcome of their activity. Hopefully, the titular book will be followed by similar studies addressed to, e.g. conservators of monuments.