Publishing of the Commentaries on the Polish Ethnographic Atlas
(Komentarze do Polskiego Atlasu Etnograficznego) has been a
long-term project of Polish ethnology since the second half of the 20th century. starting with the sixth volume, they include maps, so the reader has both - the textual and the map part - at his disposal. After 1990, the volumes were devoted to the following topics: husbandry and cattle breeding (1993, 1994), vernacular
architecture (1995), diet (1996), transport and communication (1997), funeral customs (1999), folk beliefs and knowledge (2002), neighbourly help (2001), wedding ceremonies (2004, 2007, 2009), ceremonies related to childbirth (2010). The planned volumes will cover e.g. the puerperium, upbringing and life of children, etc.
Transport and communication are phenomena which are based on significant human needs and which play a serious role in human life. The theme was also accepted in the course of research conducted for the needs of the Polish Ethnographic Atlas. Fieldwork made it possible to gather large source materials which were analysed using the ethnographical method. The display of information gained from memories registered on the maps of ethnographic fragments created (re)constructions of the former reality. (Re)constructions that did not take into account the context of common or individual involvement of the users. Such a picture of the past does not make a multi-dimensional view of the phenomena concerned. The application of new interpreting methods offers new knowledge to the researchers.