During the extension of the national No. 7 road in Zakroczym, Poland, a construction team unearthed an unusual four-leaved Moroccan-style fountain. The discovery, made near the Vistula escarpment close to the towns of Widokowa and Utrata, raises many interesting questions concerning its origin and purpose.
The 19th or early 20th-century fountain is built of brick and bound with white lime mortar, and it has a very distinctive clover shape. Notably, leftover remnants of a metal pipe in its middle confirm that it was once used as a functional water source. What remains mysterious, however, is not only the intention of this design but also its location. Archaeologists speculate that it may have been part of a military camp, linked to the activities at the nearby Modlin Fortress.
The Modlin Fortress is an imposing structure first built by Napoleon Bonaparte during the Napoleonic Wars. It underwent serious modernization between 1894 and 1900, when brick elements were replaced by concrete, and it is believed that some of these demolition bricks may have been repurposed for the fountain’s construction.
Nonetheless, a fountain in what may have been a temporary camp has raised questions. “In a camp set up with tents and hastily organized structures, such a decorative element seems unnecessary,” said Małgorzata Tarnowska, spokeswoman for the Warsaw branch of the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA). This observation suggests that the site was more than a temporary military station and possibly served as a more permanent support base for military operations.
The fountain’s location, on a high escarpment overlooking the Vistula River, would facilitate visibility and defense. Yet, the presence of such an ornamental structure in an otherwise functional setting remains perplexing.
Archaeologists have thoroughly documented the site, including photography, geodetic work, and 3D scanning. This will allow for further analysis even if the physical structure is removed or changed during construction activities.
Although archaeologists have cleaned and documented much of the structure, they still don’t know the full historical significance of the fountain. Researchers now aim to figure out why builders placed this structure in a location associated with military activities and how it connects to the larger historical picture of the Modlin Fortress.
What these studies uncover could teach us a lot about the cultural exchange between Poland and Morocco in the late 19th century when Neo-Moorish architecture started to catch on and spread across Europe. This architectural style, which took inspiration from Romantic Orientalism, had a lasting impact on public and private buildings, including synagogues in Poland.
More information: General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA)
