Contextualisation of the Early Iron Age hoard of bronze objects discovered in Gdynia-Karwiny, site 1

After the amateur discovery of a hoard of bronze ornaments (a kidney bracelet and two hollow ankle rings) in 2014 in a forest near Gdynia (Pomerania, northern Poland), the place was subjected to excavation. It turned out that in the nearest context of the bronzes (which had been found arranged one on top of the other in a narrow pit reaching 60 cm in depth) there was a cluster of stones, some of which could have been arranged intentionally in order to mark the place of the deposit. Next to this alleged stone circle there was a deep hearth used to heat stones, and for burning amber as incense. Remains of amber were preserved in the form of lumps and probably also as a deposit on the walls of some vessels. Some of the features of the examined complex may indicate a non-profane nature of the deposit: the presence of the stone structure, traces of burning amber, the location of the deposition spot in a not very habitable flattening of a narrow valley, as well as the chemical composition of the alloy of metals themselves. The ornaments were made of a porous copper alloy with a high addition of lead, antimony and arsenic, which could promote their fragility and poor use value. However, the ceramics found near the place where the bronzes are deposited do not differ from the settlement pottery of the time. The hoard and its context should be dated to the transition phase between the periods HaC1 and HaC2 (the turn of the 8th and 7th cent. BC). The Gdynia-Karwiny deposit adds to the list of finds from a period marked by the most frequent occurrence of hoards in Pomerania (turn of the Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age). Its research seems to contribute to the interpretation of the deposition of metal objects as a phenomenon primarily of a ritual nature, and at the same time a social behaviour: a manifestation of competition for prestige.

Studies on Roman coin finds from the Central European Barbaricum in the Institute of Archaeology of the Jagiellonian University – an overview

A direct successor of the oldest tradition of academic archaeology in Poland, the Institute of Archaeology of the Jagiellonian University ranks among the leading research centres with respect to studies on the influx of Roman coins into European Barbaricum. The interest in Roman coinage at the Jagiellonian University pre-dates archaeology and can be traced back to the 16th century and the professors of the Kraków Academy (the name of the university at that time) Maciej of Miechów (1457–1523) and Stanisław Grzebski (1524–1570). In the 19th century, Roman coins discovered in the vicinity of Kraków attracted the interest of Jerzy Samuel Bandtke (1768–1835). However, the time when this area of research enjoyed particular development falls to the last years before WWII and the post-war period. A significant role in this respect was played by researchers either representing the JU Institute of Archaeology, like Professors Rudolf Jamka (1906–1972), Kazimierz Godłowski (1934–1995), and Piotr Kaczanowski (1944–2015), or those cooperating with the Institute like Professor Stefan Skowronek (1928–2019). Their activity laid the foundations for today’s research on the finds of Roman coins and their inflow into the territories of the Roman Period Barbaricum. Currently, this area of studies is within the focus of two of the departments of the Institute of Archaeology: the Department of Iron Age Archaeology and the Department of Classical Archaeology. The intensification of research on the inflow of Roman coins owes much to the Finds of Roman coins in Poland and connected with PL project, carried out in 2014–2018 under the leadership of Professor Aleksander Burshe, with important contributions provided by a group of scholars from the JU Institute of Archaeology. Despite the conclusion of the project, studies on the inflow of Roman coins will continue.12345

La Tène culture in Silesia. Remarks on the state of research and new cognitive perspectives

The article presents the latest state of research on the issues of La Tène culture settlement in the area of modern-day Silesia. The text discusses the specific of field research and their interpretation in the light of all the discoveries that are known from the analysed region. Until recently, studies on the La Tène culture in Poland were considerably hampered by a particular state of research. The vast majority of finds which can be dated to the Early La Tène period have sepulchral nature, while the settlement sites represented the Middle La Tène period. The author also discusses the model of periodization used for the territory of Central Europe, the settlement potential of the local populations, their interregional connections and contacts with indigenous societies.

New data for studies on settlement and economy of the La Tène culture in Lower Silesia

The paper presents results of research carried out on two La Tène culture settlements situated in the vicinity of present-day Wrocław. The sites of Wrocław-Partynice 6 and Ślęza 11–12 revealed relics of La Tène culture buildings including semi-sunken houses, storage pits, and post-built structures, which are typical of La Tène culture villages distinguished by highly dispersed housing. The research yielded a considerable series of pottery and a small number of small finds made of clay, metal, and glass. Based on abundant analogies, the ceramic material, which included both wheel- and hand-made vessels, can be dated to the close of the Early La Tène period and the beginnings of the Middle La Tène period. The analysis of animal bones retrieved from archaeological features revealed that cattle was the predominant species in animal husbandry practiced by the people from both sites.

A newly discovered Przeworsk culture settlement and burial ground from the Late Pre-Roman and Roman period at Bejsce, Dist. Kazimierza Wielka – preliminary results of field-walking survey and rescue excavation

The article presents preliminary results of surface survey conducted under the leadership of the authors of this paper in spring of 2019 on multicultural complex of sites occupying a hill located in south-western part of Bejsce, Dist. Kazimierza Wielka. Among discovered finds the most numerous were the pottery fragments attributed to the Przeworsk culture dated to the Late Pre-Roman period, Roman period and early phase of Migration period. Settlement or possibly complex of settlements of the Przeworsk culture covered the southern part of the surveyed terrain form, while approximately 300 m to the north from the boundary of the settlement, remains of a badly damaged necropolis, dated to Late Pre-Roman and Early Roman Period were found. Because in case of one grave, situated immediately by a deep balk, ploughing uncovered a part of its fill in situ, to prevent the ongoing destruction of the grave, a decision was made to perform rescue excavations in this place.

Pre-Roman and Roman Period flat scrapers made of bone in the territory of Poland

Bone tools are among the least studied artefacts, not only in the Przeworsk culture but in other regions of European Barbaricum as well. In the article, the focus is on one type of bone tool, flat scrapers, which have not as yet been sufficiently analysed. The first conclusion is that this category of finds is more widespread than previously assumed and has often been misinterpreted. One of the most interesting findings presented in the text concerns the function of those tools. Their function is reconstructed here based on the analysis of unpublished specimens recently discovered in Przeworsk culture settlements in the basins of the Nida and Nidzica Rivers, and on analysis of the published materials. Microscopic analysis of micro-traces was conducted in order to examine the proposed hypotheses. As a result, an interpretation of the spread, function, and chronology of scrapers made of bone is proposed.

13th-century fortifications of Kraków

The paper recapitulates the current state of knowledge about the fortifications of the three basic settlement units of 13th-century Kraków, namely Wawel, Okół, and the city established under Magdeburg Law. With respect to Wawel, written accounts have survived that clearly point to large-scale construction works on timber-and-earth defences of the stronghold undertaken in 1258 and 1265; these fortifications have partly been uncovered by archaeological research close to the southern edge of the hill. The northern section of the moat protecting the Kraków suburbium known as Okół (by the southern border of Wszystkich Świętych Square and Dominikańska Street) probably ceased to function in 1191 due to its destruction during the struggles among provincial dukes vying for control over Kraków. New archaeological investigations of the moat in the area between Poselska and Senacka Streets suggest that in the second half of the 13th century the area of Okół was constricted, with its northern boundary moved back to the line running between these two streets. The earliest planned attempt at fortifying the city of Kraków did not take place before 1285–1287, and it was undertaken on the initiative of Duke Leszek Czarny. It is worth emphasising that at the initial stage it was connected with incorporation of an older Dominican mill-race (mentioned before 1284) into the new system of defences. The construction of the full defensive perimeter in the form of timber-and-earth ramparts and moats must have been completed before the third Mongol invasion, which reached Kraków in the winter of 1287. The remains of a moat connected with the oldest fortifications of the city of Kraków, presumably created during the reign of Leszek Czarny on the northern side of the Church of St. Mark, were archaeologically identified on a parcel at 26 Sławkowska Street. The western line of a moat of the same age was confirmed in several places in the westernmost part of the University Quarter. The construction of Kraków city walls after 1298, during the reign of Wacław II and Władysław Łokietek, was connected with expanding the area of the city in virtually all directions beyond the line marked by older fortifications from the times of Leszek Czarny.

Some remarks on socketed axes of the Passau type

Among artefacts from a private collection there is a bronze socketed axe which resembles the Passau type, originating from an unknown locality. Since the type was first defined in 1935, its definition tended to be extended to cover axes of other variants, and as a result, apart from those decorated with three arched planes (wings), axes ornamented with 1 to 4 arched ribs have also been included into this type. In recent years, however, the name has practically fallen out of use in archaeological literature. A review of relevant publications indicates that both the Passau type proper and the variants decorated with ribs should be dated to a broad timespan of HaA2–HaB3. The earliest assemblages, mostly hoards, occur in the middle Danube basin, and the younger ones in the upper Danube and upper Elbe basins. The closest analogies to the privately-owned axe discussed here are stray finds from Bavaria and Austria. Their chronology falls within HaA2–HaB2, perhaps with a focus on HaB2.

Figural tile from the first half of the 16th century with a young man from Jagiellońska Street in Kraków

Archaeological supervision conducted in 2013 on Jagiellońska, Bracka, and Św. Anny Streets in Kraków resulted in the discovery of over 250 pieces of stove tiles. Among them, of particular note is a fragmentarily preserved tile featuring the representation of a young man, found in the area of Jagiellońska Street. The surviving part of the representation comprises the head and a fragment of the torso. The tile was very carefully made, which proves the high skills of the craftsman. The head and the costume have a clear modelling, and the whole is covered with a multi-colour glaze. The young man’s costume is typical of the era. It consists of a shirt, a caftan, a tie with a contrasting collar, and a beret with feathers. Multi-coloured tiles with figural representations were characteristic of the ceramic production of the first half of the 16th century. The find adds to the collection of figural tiles originating from the area of Kraków.

Archaeological excavations of multicultural site 1 at Michałowice, Commune Czarnocin, in seasons 2013–2014

The excavations of multicultural site 1 at Michałowice have been carried out since 2008. So far, the excavations have encompassed approx. 40 ares and resulted in the discovery of 122 archaeological features. The area investigated in seasons 2013–2014 totals 10 ares. The research revealed cremation burials associated with the Lusatian and Przeworsk cultures, as well as the first inhumation burial in the site, and more groove features linked with the Przeworsk culture.