Andrzej discovered his passion for diving while still in secondary school, which brought him closer to the dynamically developing Department of Underwater Archaeology at NCU. After changing diving federations, he participated in the first training course organised by the Academic Underwater Research Club at the Institute of Archaeology. He also participated in systematic underwater research by Nicolaus Copernicus University on Lake Bobięcińskie and subsequent years on Lake Lednica. Soon, his choice of studies became obvious. He went from a volunteer to a student, then a colleague, and finally became the leader of Toruń's underwater archaeologists at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń.
Career and excavations
After graduating from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Andrzej began his doctorate at the University of Oxford. His dissertation focused on long-distance trade and exchange in Central Europe's late Bronze Age and early Iron Age. While working on his PhD, he worked closely with icons of European maritime and prehistoric archaeology, such as Barry Cunliffe, Andrew Sherratt and Sean McGrail. During his doctoral studies and after obtaining his doctorate, he worked for Oxford Archaeology for several years, but decided to return to Poland. Here, he was employed at the Department of Underwater Archaeology at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, and in 2010, he took over the team's leadership. In 2019, thanks to Andrzej's efforts, the Centre for Underwater Archaeology at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń was established. Despite his many responsibilities as the leader of a team of underwater archaeologists, he found time to write the book Argonauts of the Stone Age, contributing to his habilitation.
Scientific interests
In archaeology, Andrzej loves a change of perspective. On the one hand, he delves into the nuances of early medieval Ostrów Lednicki. On the other hand, he writes books on the prehistory of sailing on a global scale. Like his mentor, Sir Barry Cunliffe, he believes writing about things that interest you is only worth writing about. Since his doctoral studies, late prehistory, especially the Bronze Age and early Iron Age, have been very close to his heart. He has researched water settlements from this period in Poland and participated in spectacular wreck research in the Mediterranean, such as Gelidonya and Kumulca.
Non-scientific interests
Outside of work, i.e. scientific diving, Andrzej enjoys diving while travelling. He has already visited many of the best diving sites in the world and has shown them to his friends and acquaintances. The rest of the diving sites remain a challenge. Locally, his favourite activity is cycling, especially in the Kampinos Forest. In his free time, he enjoys gardening and landscaping.
Role in the team
Andrzej is the director of the Centre for Underwater Archaeology at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. He is responsible for management, obtaining grants and establishing contacts with foreign partners. This does not change the fact that he spends a lot of time underwater exploring, searching for and solving underwater mysteries of the past.
Teaching
Archaeology students will meet Andrzej in their first semester, when he will talk to them about the role of underwater archaeology in contemporary science. Suppose someone decides to pursue their interest in underwater archaeology. In that case, they can meet Andrzej in classes as part of the bachelor's degree programme and master's degree specialisation. During the classes, he will tell the story of seafaring and human contact with the sea from ancient to modern times. Students who want to write their theses on topics related to underwater archaeology can choose Andrzej as their supervisor.
