Archaeological surface survey of the Únanovka Creek basin yields new information extending the pr... more Archaeological surface survey of the Únanovka Creek basin yields new information extending the previous knowledge about archaeological relics and the structure of prehistoric and early medieval settlement in the Microregion of Únanovka creek. Apart from the discovery of 10 new sites, relative chronology of some sites was precised. For the Neolithic settlement residential spects and economic-distribution models would be reconstruct. Obtained data will be used for building and testing of predictive models. Used survey methodology was proven to be suitable for collection of primary archaeological data.
"Intense archaeological and heritage surveillance started on the site of the Vil... more "Intense archaeological and heritage surveillance started on the site of the Vildenberk castle ruin, near Pozořice (Brno-Venkov district, South Moravia) in 2011. Interdisciplinary research into the castle and its hinterland by a research team of students from Masaryk University, Brno was launched in parallel. The research involved a newassessment of written sources concerning the history of the castle and the whole demesne. In addition, a new planof the location was drawn up with the use of modern geodetic and geoinformation applications, and the acquired data was compared to the existing plans. Preliminary research into the building materials on the site was done aswell. Interesting finds include the relic of a rampart in the extramural settlement below the castle, the investigationof which is still in progress."
CONTACTS, BOUNDARIES & INNOVATION edited by Ralf Gleser & Daniela Hofmann Exploring developed Neolithic societies in central Europe and beyond, 2019
The fifth millennium is characterized by far-flung contacts and a veritable flood of innovations.... more The fifth millennium is characterized by far-flung contacts and a veritable flood of innovations. While its beginning is still strongly reminiscent of a broadly Line-arbandkeramik way of life, at its end we find new, interregionally valid forms of symbolism, representation and ritual behaviour, changes in the settlement system, in architecture and in routine life. Yet, these interregional tendencies are paired with a profusion of increasingly small-scale archaeological cultures, many of them defined through pottery only. This tension between large-scale interaction and more local developments remains ill understood, largely because interregional comparisons are lacking. Contributors in this volume provide up-to-date regional overviews of the main developments in the fifth millennium and discuss, amongst others, in how far ceramically-defined 'cultures' can be seen as spatially coherent social groups with their own way of life and worldview, and how processes of innovation can be understood. Case studies range from the Neolithisation of the Netherlands, hunter-gatherer-farmer fusions in the Polish Lowlands, to the Italian Neolithic. Amongst others, they cover the circulation of stone disc-rings in western Europe, the formation of post-LBK societies in central Europe and the reliability of pottery as an indicator for social transformations.
ARCHEOLOGICKÉ PROSPEKCE A NEDESTRUKTIVNÍ ARCHEOLOGIE v Jihočeském kraji, kraji Vysočina, Jihomoravském kraji a v Dolním Rakousku Sborník z konference, Jindřichův Hradec 6. 3. – 7. 3. 2013, 159-165., 2013
The dominant feature of the South Moravian village Březník (district Třebíč) is the Roman Catholi... more The dominant feature of the South Moravian village Březník (district Třebíč) is the Roman Catholic parish church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Its Romanesque tower and nave are dated to the 2nd half of the 12th century but the Gothic cross wing, sacristy
and choir to 2nd half of the 15th century (Dufka – Richter 1934; summary of the opinions in Kovář et al. in press). The galleried church was built in a dominant top hill position of the municipal urban area, which (together with some early modern written sources) suggests the existence of a medieval manor house in its vicinity. The keep of the local nobility is historically documented
since the 13th to 16th century, however it disappeared without any trace and it lacks in recent summary casteollogical works from Moravia (Plaček 2001).
Anthropogenic activities on the church hill reach according to current knowledge into time before the foundation of the Muzeum brozura.indd 164 19.12.13 13:10 165 medieval church. The isolated fragments of prehistoric pottery mixed up with modern material were found during the reconstruction works (e. g. Vokáč 2007, 7–10). Due to low information value of these fragments, we may just consider only the preliminarily dating of local activities into the Neolithic and Eneolithic period.
The beginning of a new field research was initiated due to destruction of embankment at the western wall of the cemetery. The combined study of written sources, interview with local respondents and detailed surface survey was able to identify the part of the land west of the parish church, which was intact even with the original ground level. The evaluation of current researches and
views on the development of the church and localization fortress in Březník was provided (Kovář et al. in press, 205–210). The archaeological collections (the Museum of the Vysočina in Třebíč) were examined. Collections contained wheel-pressed graphite pottery fragments dated to the 1st half of 13th century. The study of available archive materials provides the discovery of still
unpublished analysis of church building material written by J. Dvořák. Geographic information systems have been used during the
first phase of the research for evaluation of data set gained by measuring of the total station and GPS, and the creation of digital plans examined in the parish plot georeferenced grid S-JTSK (Fig. 1). Via ArcGIS and Surfer the digital elevation model was created (Fig. 2–3), that identified a partly disappeared field anomaly, which spread under a recent embankment and early modern
period cemetery wall. The observed irregularity in the western part of the parish land could indicate the presence of residues of defunct buildings (Kovář et al. in press), but this hypothesis had to be tested by the other independent data sets. In the second phase of the research of church hill, research team investigated the parish area by application of the
geoarchaeological and geophysical research. The manual soil probe, accuratelly hollow-core drill, was used, (3 cm diameter;
Fig. 4). The transect of the geomorphologic anomaly observed by geodetic measurements was made (Fig. 6) and the probes were
georeferenced using the precise GPS Trimble GeoExplorer 6000 GeoXH (TerraSync software).
For the purposes of geophysical prospecting (Fig. 5) an area of 20 x 7 m was delineated. Because of predicted stone structures the resistive geoelectrical method, namely the method of symmetrical resistance profiling (SRP), was applied. For the field application of this method there have been used the resistive equipment SAS 1000 (ABEM Instrument, Sweden). Due to the nature
of the investigated area, Wenner electrode arrays with spacing of 50 cm and a similar depth range were chosen, measurement step
was implemented in the network 50 x 50 cm (Fig. 5).
The second stage of applications geoarchaeological and geophysical research tentatively confirmed the earlier hypothesis. Using the series of pedological boreholes (Table 1; Fig. 6) it was reconstructed the complex stratigraphic situation of the parish land outside the southwest corner of the cemetery wall, where earlier contexts under relatively young anthropogenic soil horizons
were identified (Fig. 7). The precise dating have to be subject of further research. It can be assumed that these soil horizons could
be connected to the relicts of medieval and early modern anthropogenic activities. In the stratigraphically oldest context it cannot be resigned on its prehistoric origin which probably belongs into the Neolithic and Eneolithic period. The most important result of this research is the finding of geophysical anomalies which indicates the presence of accumulation
of stones (Fig. 6), which could be attributed to the extinct medieval fortresses.
During the next stage of the research, it seems to be necessary to refine the stratigraphic position location, its genesis and dating of each of identified contexts as well as geophysical survey anomalies which were discovered by the prospection. These problems can be solved by the form of more detailed nondestructive or less destructive geoarchaeological and geophysical methods, which
could be supplemented by methods of absolute dating.
Data set obtained by the first two phases of the research is of that importance, that it should be considered the effective application of site excavation method in the following research phase.
The initial phase of research into the character and extent of domains belonging to castles in So... more The initial phase of research into the character and extent of domains belonging to castles in Southwest Moravia involved a summary of previous knowledge of the proprietary background of 32 castle sites in the region under review in the period before the Hussite Wars. Even though the quantitative and qualitative deficiencies of preserved source materials diminish the possibilities of a comparison between the character and development of proprietary backgrounds in individual castles, they give us an idea of the extent of domains in 20 localities from the whole set under review, at least for one date before the outbreak of the Hussite Wars. The above research confirms the previous idea that the extent of domains in colonisation areas was larger when compared to the old settlement territory, and the assumption that the functioning of a 14th century castle may have been secured by relatively small demesne including 1–2 villages.
Unpublished part of the archaeological record excavated from Lelekovice Castle near Brno during 1... more Unpublished part of the archaeological record excavated from Lelekovice Castle near Brno during 1984-1990 and 2002-2004 by Josef Unger represent the Neolithic settlement. Excavation in the area of the Castle and the Bailey yielded a collection of Neolithic pottery, related chipped industry and polished industry together with osteological material. Subject of this paper are the analyses of the ceramic forms, the raw material and the animal bones. According to these results the Neolithic settlement is from the Moravian Painted Ware Culture (Phase II).
This article is about new discoveries of settlements of the linear pottery culture and stroke-orn... more This article is about new discoveries of settlements of the linear pottery culture and stroke-ornamented ware culture in Boskovická brázda.
Nephrite and jadeitite represent probably the most attractive rocks used for polished artefacts i... more Nephrite and jadeitite represent probably the most attractive rocks used for polished artefacts in prehistoric times. Because of similar appearance under observation by naked eye, the both rocks have been often confused. A reliable determination can be done using investigation of thin section by means of polarizing microscope: the nephrite is composed of fibrous actinolite – tremolite from the group of amphiboles whereas the jadeitite is built of isometric grains of jadeite from the group of pyroxenes. Unfortunately, the preparation of thin section is a destructive method that is why we started to use a non-destructive x-ray difractometric determination by a measuring instrument specially adapted by D. Všianský (IGS MU). Under the term jadeitite we comprise rocks composed prevalently of Na and Ca-Na pyroxenes (jadeitites – omphacitites). Till the year 2009 there was described 5 polished artefacts made of nephrite and 10 - 11 jadeitite axes from Moravia (Štelcl et al. 1973, Přichystal 2009). Now we can add one new nephrite axe from Silesia (collection in the castle of Javorník) and two jadeitite axes from Moravia (Brno-Žebětín and Silůvky). Nephrite axe from Javorník. The small stone axe (5.8 x 2.7 x 0.6 cm; weight 18.75 g) comes probably from the collection of Wrocław bishops originally deposited in the Jánský Vrch Castle at Javorník and now is placed in the Jeseník museum (i.n. H 7727). Unfortunately it has no localization but its origin in the area of Silesia is almost certain. According to its shape, the artefact corresponds to axes of the Late Neolithic (Eneolithic) age. Based on its appearance and measuring of magnetic susceptibility (0,06 x 10-3 SI) we supposed the polished axe is made of nephrite. To prove this assumption the artefact was investigated using a non-destructive x-ray diffraction. The analysis confirmed monomineral composition represented by a monoclinic amphibole of the actinolite-tremolite group. This unique raw material has natural occurrence at Jordanów Śląski - the only one in the whole eastern part of Central Europe. All signs of the studied axe testify for its origin from the mentioned source. Jadeitite axe from Brno-Žebětín. The small axe (4.2 x 2.5 x 1.2 cm; weight 22.6 g) was found by P. Škrdla during his surface survey at a known Neolithic locality “U křivé borovice” (Brno-Žebětín) that is dated to the culture with Moravian Painted Ware, phase Ib (Lengyel cultural group). The axe has a usual shape for Neolithic – Eneolithic axes with oval profile and triangular outline. Based on a macroscopic inspection, the raw material was originally supposed to be a serpentinite but its magnetic susceptibility (0.01 – 0.03 x 10-3 SI) does not correspond. Our investigation of thin section using polarizing microscope showed the rock has been composed of jadeite - omphacite pyroxene. Jadeitite axe from Silůvky (5 km north of Dolní Kounice). The artefact was discovered due to chance by a schoolgirl M. Ambrozková from Silůvky around the year 1995. She found it in a part of the village called “Pod kopcem” where a construction of sewage plant was prepared at that time. The axe has dimensions 7.6 x 4.5 x 1.8 cm, weight 107.39 g and a low magnetic susceptibility (0.10 x 10-3 SI). For determination of its raw material we used again the non-destructive x-ray diffraction performed by D. Všianský. The provenance of jadeitite axes in Central Europe has been discussed since the second half of the 19th century. A discovery of large prehistoric workshops by Petrequin et al. (2006) around jadeitite – omphacitite – eclogite outcrops on the slopes of Mont Viso Mt. (1700 – 2400 m a.s.l., Cottian Alps, NW Italy) revealed the most important source in Europe with the distribution area of about 1000 km. Another source of jadeitite (pebbles in Tertiary conglomerates) is known from the Beigua Massif near Genova (D´Amico – Starnini 2000), some 120 km to the east of the Mont Viso Mt. According to recent knowledge, there is no reason to doubt about the origin of Moravian jadeitite axes from NW Italy. References D´Amico, C. – Starnini, E. 2000: Eclogites, jades and other HP metaophiolites of the Neolithic polished stone tools from Northern Italy. – Krystalinikum 26, 9-20. Brno-Stuttgart. Petrequin, P. – Errera, M. – Petrequin, A. M. – Allard, P. 2006: The neolithic quarries of Mont Viso (Piedmont, Italy). Initial radiocarbon dates. – European Journal of Archaeology 9, 1, 7-30. Přichystal, A. 2009: Lithic raw materials in prehistoric times of Eastern Central Europe. – 331 pp. Masaryk University in Brno. (In Czech). Schmidt, J. – Štelcl, J. 1971: Jadeites from Moravian Neolithic period. – Acta Universitatis Carolinae – Geologica, Hejtman Vol., No. 1,2, 141-152. Prague.
A small stone axe (5.8 x 2.7 x 0.6 cm) from the Jeseník museum caught our attention due to the un... more A small stone axe (5.8 x 2.7 x 0.6 cm) from the Jeseník museum caught our attention due to the unusual raw ma-terial used. The artefact corresponds to axes from the Late Neolithic (Eneolithic) Age and probably comes from the collection of the Wrocław bishops originally deposited in the Jánský Vrch castle in Javorník. Although any localization is missing, its origin in Silesia is almost certain. Based on its appearance and magnetic susceptibil-ity measurement results, it was assumed the polished axe was made of nephrite. To prove this assumption the artefact was investigated using non-destructive x-ray diffraction (XRD) in a specially adapted apparatus. This type of determination was used in the Czech Republic for the first time. The analysis confirmed a monomineral composition represented by a monoclinic amphibole of the actinolite-tremolite group. This unique raw material naturally occurs in Jordanów Śląski - the only site in the whole of the eastern part of Central Europe. All the features of the studied axe point to its origin as being probably from the source mentioned above.
Linear Band Pottery (LBK), Stroked Pottery (SPC), Moravian Painted Ware (MPWC) cultures developed... more Linear Band Pottery (LBK), Stroked Pottery (SPC), Moravian Painted Ware (MPWC) cultures developed in Moravia during the Neolithic period. Based on the currently available radiocarbon dates, this period lasted for 1800 years. The LBK lasted for 550 years and the MPWC for 1150 years. There is a 100 year hiatus between these cultures, when Moravia was inhabited by people practicing the SPC. With increasing knowledge and more radiocarbon dates, it has become apparent that the current ideas about the development of the Neolithic need revision due to discrepancies between the traditional scheme and new empirical data. Chronology building on the basis of the 14C method is currently the most accurate dating technique for this period.
ARCHEOLOGICKÉ PROSPEKCE A NEDESTRUKTIVNÍ ARCHEOLOGIE v Jihočeském kraji, kraji Vysočina, Jihomoravském kraji a v Dolním Rakousku Sborník z konference, Jindřichův Hradec 6. 3. – 7. 3. 2013, 2013
Předložený článek shrnuje dosavadní výsledky archeologických výzkumů, které vypovídají o minulém... more Předložený článek shrnuje dosavadní výsledky archeologických výzkumů, které vypovídají o minulém osídlení v povodí říčky Únanovky. Zaměřuje se zejména na výsledky projektů povrchových sběrů v této oblasti (Matoušek et al. 2013). Povrchové sběry zde probíhají od roku 2009 za účasti archeologů a studentů katedry archeologie FF MU v Brně. Oblast je již
odedávna díky své poloze a příhodným přírodním podmínkám vhodná pro osídlení, což dokazují četné archeologické výzkumy,
které zde probíhají od 19. století (Podborský – Vildomec 1972; Podborský et al. 2005). Od roku 1956 se centrem systematických výzkumů v této oblasti stala lokalita Těšetice-Kyjovice „Sutny“, která byla objevena při povrchových sběrech. Archeologický výzkum této lokality je prováděn Ústavem archeologie a muzeologie FF MU v Brně. Vědecko-výzkumná archeologická stanice
Těšetice sloužila jako základna při projektu povrchových prospekcí.
Povrchové sběry v povodí říčky Únanovky byly prováděny dvěma způsoby. První metoda se nazývala „Sběry ve čtvercích“ a sloužila k vyhledání dostupných archeologických pramenů z celého území povodí. Druhá užitá metoda, „Bodové sběry“, sloužila k bližšímu zkoumání potencionálních lokalit, které byly vybrány na základě nálezů učiněných při sběrech ve čtvercích. Během obou uvedených typů povrchových sběrů byl kladen důraz i na identifikaci a ověření poloh dříve známých, ale v literatuře nedostatečně publikovaných lokalit. Hlavním cílem povrchových prospekcí v mikroregionu říčky Únanovky bylo vytvoření představy o sídelních strukturách a socioekonomických aspektech pravěkého a raně středověkého osídlení. Projekt sběrů byl tedy zaměřen na vyhledání dosud neznámých lokalit a na průzkum již dříve známých, ale nepřesně chronologicky a prostorově zařazených lokalit. V průběhu celého
projektu bylo objeveno deset nových lokalit. Pro některé již dříve známé lokality bylo možno určit jejich přesnější dataci do fází příslušných kultur. Jako příklad lze uvést lokalitu Únanov „Padělky“ (Kuča et al., v tisku).
Obecně lze říci, že nejvíce nálezů, které potvrzují osídlení v povodí říčky Únanovky, chronologicky náleží do mladší
doby kamenné a raného středověku. Pozitivní nálezy osídlení byly potvrzeny i pro eneolit, dobu bronzovou, dobu halštatskou a protohistorii. Nejméně nálezů v oblasti pochází z paleolitu. Jedná se spíše o jednotlivé artefakty štípané industrie s nejasnou datací.
"An extensive archaeological surface survey was carried out in the river basin of ⁄nanovka in the... more "An extensive archaeological surface survey was carried out in the river basin of ⁄nanovka in the Znojmo district in recent years, during which also the Únanov - "Padělky" site was studied in detail in the autumn of 2012. This site, although discovered shortly after World War II, has not yet examined and the results properly published. Surface survey has yielded many archaeological finds, mainly pottery fragments and quantity of knapped and polished stone industry. Based on the analysis of the found material it was determined the site was settled mainly during the Neolithic period, specifically in times of cultures with linear, stroke-ornamented and Moravian Painted Ware. Besides the Neolithic there were also artifacts of other periods of human history found here. Due to the presence of all major Neolithic cultures the Únanov - Padělky site can be considered as crucial Neolithic archaeological site in the micro-regional context."
ARCHEOLOGICKÉ PROSPEKCE A NEDESTRUKTIVNÍ ARCHEOLOGIE v Jihočeském kraji, kraji Vysočina, Jihomoravském kraji a v Dolním Rakousku Sborník z konference, Jindřichův Hradec 6. 3. – 7. 3. 2013
Surface surveys yield new information extending the previous knowledge about archaeological relic... more Surface surveys yield new information extending the previous knowledge about archaeological relics and the structure of prehistoric and early medieval settlement in the Microregion of Únanovka creek. Apart from the discovery of 10 new sites, relative chronology of some sites was precised.
Archaeological surface survey of the Únanovka Creek basin yields new information extending the pr... more Archaeological surface survey of the Únanovka Creek basin yields new information extending the previous knowledge about archaeological relics and the structure of prehistoric and early medieval settlement in the Microregion of Únanovka creek. Apart from the discovery of 10 new sites, relative chronology of some sites was precised. For the Neolithic settlement residential spects and economic-distribution models would be reconstruct. Obtained data will be used for building and testing of predictive models. Used survey methodology was proven to be suitable for collection of primary archaeological data.
"Intense archaeological and heritage surveillance started on the site of the Vil... more "Intense archaeological and heritage surveillance started on the site of the Vildenberk castle ruin, near Pozořice (Brno-Venkov district, South Moravia) in 2011. Interdisciplinary research into the castle and its hinterland by a research team of students from Masaryk University, Brno was launched in parallel. The research involved a newassessment of written sources concerning the history of the castle and the whole demesne. In addition, a new planof the location was drawn up with the use of modern geodetic and geoinformation applications, and the acquired data was compared to the existing plans. Preliminary research into the building materials on the site was done aswell. Interesting finds include the relic of a rampart in the extramural settlement below the castle, the investigationof which is still in progress."
CONTACTS, BOUNDARIES & INNOVATION edited by Ralf Gleser & Daniela Hofmann Exploring developed Neolithic societies in central Europe and beyond, 2019
The fifth millennium is characterized by far-flung contacts and a veritable flood of innovations.... more The fifth millennium is characterized by far-flung contacts and a veritable flood of innovations. While its beginning is still strongly reminiscent of a broadly Line-arbandkeramik way of life, at its end we find new, interregionally valid forms of symbolism, representation and ritual behaviour, changes in the settlement system, in architecture and in routine life. Yet, these interregional tendencies are paired with a profusion of increasingly small-scale archaeological cultures, many of them defined through pottery only. This tension between large-scale interaction and more local developments remains ill understood, largely because interregional comparisons are lacking. Contributors in this volume provide up-to-date regional overviews of the main developments in the fifth millennium and discuss, amongst others, in how far ceramically-defined 'cultures' can be seen as spatially coherent social groups with their own way of life and worldview, and how processes of innovation can be understood. Case studies range from the Neolithisation of the Netherlands, hunter-gatherer-farmer fusions in the Polish Lowlands, to the Italian Neolithic. Amongst others, they cover the circulation of stone disc-rings in western Europe, the formation of post-LBK societies in central Europe and the reliability of pottery as an indicator for social transformations.
ARCHEOLOGICKÉ PROSPEKCE A NEDESTRUKTIVNÍ ARCHEOLOGIE v Jihočeském kraji, kraji Vysočina, Jihomoravském kraji a v Dolním Rakousku Sborník z konference, Jindřichův Hradec 6. 3. – 7. 3. 2013, 159-165., 2013
The dominant feature of the South Moravian village Březník (district Třebíč) is the Roman Catholi... more The dominant feature of the South Moravian village Březník (district Třebíč) is the Roman Catholic parish church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Its Romanesque tower and nave are dated to the 2nd half of the 12th century but the Gothic cross wing, sacristy
and choir to 2nd half of the 15th century (Dufka – Richter 1934; summary of the opinions in Kovář et al. in press). The galleried church was built in a dominant top hill position of the municipal urban area, which (together with some early modern written sources) suggests the existence of a medieval manor house in its vicinity. The keep of the local nobility is historically documented
since the 13th to 16th century, however it disappeared without any trace and it lacks in recent summary casteollogical works from Moravia (Plaček 2001).
Anthropogenic activities on the church hill reach according to current knowledge into time before the foundation of the Muzeum brozura.indd 164 19.12.13 13:10 165 medieval church. The isolated fragments of prehistoric pottery mixed up with modern material were found during the reconstruction works (e. g. Vokáč 2007, 7–10). Due to low information value of these fragments, we may just consider only the preliminarily dating of local activities into the Neolithic and Eneolithic period.
The beginning of a new field research was initiated due to destruction of embankment at the western wall of the cemetery. The combined study of written sources, interview with local respondents and detailed surface survey was able to identify the part of the land west of the parish church, which was intact even with the original ground level. The evaluation of current researches and
views on the development of the church and localization fortress in Březník was provided (Kovář et al. in press, 205–210). The archaeological collections (the Museum of the Vysočina in Třebíč) were examined. Collections contained wheel-pressed graphite pottery fragments dated to the 1st half of 13th century. The study of available archive materials provides the discovery of still
unpublished analysis of church building material written by J. Dvořák. Geographic information systems have been used during the
first phase of the research for evaluation of data set gained by measuring of the total station and GPS, and the creation of digital plans examined in the parish plot georeferenced grid S-JTSK (Fig. 1). Via ArcGIS and Surfer the digital elevation model was created (Fig. 2–3), that identified a partly disappeared field anomaly, which spread under a recent embankment and early modern
period cemetery wall. The observed irregularity in the western part of the parish land could indicate the presence of residues of defunct buildings (Kovář et al. in press), but this hypothesis had to be tested by the other independent data sets. In the second phase of the research of church hill, research team investigated the parish area by application of the
geoarchaeological and geophysical research. The manual soil probe, accuratelly hollow-core drill, was used, (3 cm diameter;
Fig. 4). The transect of the geomorphologic anomaly observed by geodetic measurements was made (Fig. 6) and the probes were
georeferenced using the precise GPS Trimble GeoExplorer 6000 GeoXH (TerraSync software).
For the purposes of geophysical prospecting (Fig. 5) an area of 20 x 7 m was delineated. Because of predicted stone structures the resistive geoelectrical method, namely the method of symmetrical resistance profiling (SRP), was applied. For the field application of this method there have been used the resistive equipment SAS 1000 (ABEM Instrument, Sweden). Due to the nature
of the investigated area, Wenner electrode arrays with spacing of 50 cm and a similar depth range were chosen, measurement step
was implemented in the network 50 x 50 cm (Fig. 5).
The second stage of applications geoarchaeological and geophysical research tentatively confirmed the earlier hypothesis. Using the series of pedological boreholes (Table 1; Fig. 6) it was reconstructed the complex stratigraphic situation of the parish land outside the southwest corner of the cemetery wall, where earlier contexts under relatively young anthropogenic soil horizons
were identified (Fig. 7). The precise dating have to be subject of further research. It can be assumed that these soil horizons could
be connected to the relicts of medieval and early modern anthropogenic activities. In the stratigraphically oldest context it cannot be resigned on its prehistoric origin which probably belongs into the Neolithic and Eneolithic period. The most important result of this research is the finding of geophysical anomalies which indicates the presence of accumulation
of stones (Fig. 6), which could be attributed to the extinct medieval fortresses.
During the next stage of the research, it seems to be necessary to refine the stratigraphic position location, its genesis and dating of each of identified contexts as well as geophysical survey anomalies which were discovered by the prospection. These problems can be solved by the form of more detailed nondestructive or less destructive geoarchaeological and geophysical methods, which
could be supplemented by methods of absolute dating.
Data set obtained by the first two phases of the research is of that importance, that it should be considered the effective application of site excavation method in the following research phase.
The initial phase of research into the character and extent of domains belonging to castles in So... more The initial phase of research into the character and extent of domains belonging to castles in Southwest Moravia involved a summary of previous knowledge of the proprietary background of 32 castle sites in the region under review in the period before the Hussite Wars. Even though the quantitative and qualitative deficiencies of preserved source materials diminish the possibilities of a comparison between the character and development of proprietary backgrounds in individual castles, they give us an idea of the extent of domains in 20 localities from the whole set under review, at least for one date before the outbreak of the Hussite Wars. The above research confirms the previous idea that the extent of domains in colonisation areas was larger when compared to the old settlement territory, and the assumption that the functioning of a 14th century castle may have been secured by relatively small demesne including 1–2 villages.
Unpublished part of the archaeological record excavated from Lelekovice Castle near Brno during 1... more Unpublished part of the archaeological record excavated from Lelekovice Castle near Brno during 1984-1990 and 2002-2004 by Josef Unger represent the Neolithic settlement. Excavation in the area of the Castle and the Bailey yielded a collection of Neolithic pottery, related chipped industry and polished industry together with osteological material. Subject of this paper are the analyses of the ceramic forms, the raw material and the animal bones. According to these results the Neolithic settlement is from the Moravian Painted Ware Culture (Phase II).
This article is about new discoveries of settlements of the linear pottery culture and stroke-orn... more This article is about new discoveries of settlements of the linear pottery culture and stroke-ornamented ware culture in Boskovická brázda.
Nephrite and jadeitite represent probably the most attractive rocks used for polished artefacts i... more Nephrite and jadeitite represent probably the most attractive rocks used for polished artefacts in prehistoric times. Because of similar appearance under observation by naked eye, the both rocks have been often confused. A reliable determination can be done using investigation of thin section by means of polarizing microscope: the nephrite is composed of fibrous actinolite – tremolite from the group of amphiboles whereas the jadeitite is built of isometric grains of jadeite from the group of pyroxenes. Unfortunately, the preparation of thin section is a destructive method that is why we started to use a non-destructive x-ray difractometric determination by a measuring instrument specially adapted by D. Všianský (IGS MU). Under the term jadeitite we comprise rocks composed prevalently of Na and Ca-Na pyroxenes (jadeitites – omphacitites). Till the year 2009 there was described 5 polished artefacts made of nephrite and 10 - 11 jadeitite axes from Moravia (Štelcl et al. 1973, Přichystal 2009). Now we can add one new nephrite axe from Silesia (collection in the castle of Javorník) and two jadeitite axes from Moravia (Brno-Žebětín and Silůvky). Nephrite axe from Javorník. The small stone axe (5.8 x 2.7 x 0.6 cm; weight 18.75 g) comes probably from the collection of Wrocław bishops originally deposited in the Jánský Vrch Castle at Javorník and now is placed in the Jeseník museum (i.n. H 7727). Unfortunately it has no localization but its origin in the area of Silesia is almost certain. According to its shape, the artefact corresponds to axes of the Late Neolithic (Eneolithic) age. Based on its appearance and measuring of magnetic susceptibility (0,06 x 10-3 SI) we supposed the polished axe is made of nephrite. To prove this assumption the artefact was investigated using a non-destructive x-ray diffraction. The analysis confirmed monomineral composition represented by a monoclinic amphibole of the actinolite-tremolite group. This unique raw material has natural occurrence at Jordanów Śląski - the only one in the whole eastern part of Central Europe. All signs of the studied axe testify for its origin from the mentioned source. Jadeitite axe from Brno-Žebětín. The small axe (4.2 x 2.5 x 1.2 cm; weight 22.6 g) was found by P. Škrdla during his surface survey at a known Neolithic locality “U křivé borovice” (Brno-Žebětín) that is dated to the culture with Moravian Painted Ware, phase Ib (Lengyel cultural group). The axe has a usual shape for Neolithic – Eneolithic axes with oval profile and triangular outline. Based on a macroscopic inspection, the raw material was originally supposed to be a serpentinite but its magnetic susceptibility (0.01 – 0.03 x 10-3 SI) does not correspond. Our investigation of thin section using polarizing microscope showed the rock has been composed of jadeite - omphacite pyroxene. Jadeitite axe from Silůvky (5 km north of Dolní Kounice). The artefact was discovered due to chance by a schoolgirl M. Ambrozková from Silůvky around the year 1995. She found it in a part of the village called “Pod kopcem” where a construction of sewage plant was prepared at that time. The axe has dimensions 7.6 x 4.5 x 1.8 cm, weight 107.39 g and a low magnetic susceptibility (0.10 x 10-3 SI). For determination of its raw material we used again the non-destructive x-ray diffraction performed by D. Všianský. The provenance of jadeitite axes in Central Europe has been discussed since the second half of the 19th century. A discovery of large prehistoric workshops by Petrequin et al. (2006) around jadeitite – omphacitite – eclogite outcrops on the slopes of Mont Viso Mt. (1700 – 2400 m a.s.l., Cottian Alps, NW Italy) revealed the most important source in Europe with the distribution area of about 1000 km. Another source of jadeitite (pebbles in Tertiary conglomerates) is known from the Beigua Massif near Genova (D´Amico – Starnini 2000), some 120 km to the east of the Mont Viso Mt. According to recent knowledge, there is no reason to doubt about the origin of Moravian jadeitite axes from NW Italy. References D´Amico, C. – Starnini, E. 2000: Eclogites, jades and other HP metaophiolites of the Neolithic polished stone tools from Northern Italy. – Krystalinikum 26, 9-20. Brno-Stuttgart. Petrequin, P. – Errera, M. – Petrequin, A. M. – Allard, P. 2006: The neolithic quarries of Mont Viso (Piedmont, Italy). Initial radiocarbon dates. – European Journal of Archaeology 9, 1, 7-30. Přichystal, A. 2009: Lithic raw materials in prehistoric times of Eastern Central Europe. – 331 pp. Masaryk University in Brno. (In Czech). Schmidt, J. – Štelcl, J. 1971: Jadeites from Moravian Neolithic period. – Acta Universitatis Carolinae – Geologica, Hejtman Vol., No. 1,2, 141-152. Prague.
A small stone axe (5.8 x 2.7 x 0.6 cm) from the Jeseník museum caught our attention due to the un... more A small stone axe (5.8 x 2.7 x 0.6 cm) from the Jeseník museum caught our attention due to the unusual raw ma-terial used. The artefact corresponds to axes from the Late Neolithic (Eneolithic) Age and probably comes from the collection of the Wrocław bishops originally deposited in the Jánský Vrch castle in Javorník. Although any localization is missing, its origin in Silesia is almost certain. Based on its appearance and magnetic susceptibil-ity measurement results, it was assumed the polished axe was made of nephrite. To prove this assumption the artefact was investigated using non-destructive x-ray diffraction (XRD) in a specially adapted apparatus. This type of determination was used in the Czech Republic for the first time. The analysis confirmed a monomineral composition represented by a monoclinic amphibole of the actinolite-tremolite group. This unique raw material naturally occurs in Jordanów Śląski - the only site in the whole of the eastern part of Central Europe. All the features of the studied axe point to its origin as being probably from the source mentioned above.
Linear Band Pottery (LBK), Stroked Pottery (SPC), Moravian Painted Ware (MPWC) cultures developed... more Linear Band Pottery (LBK), Stroked Pottery (SPC), Moravian Painted Ware (MPWC) cultures developed in Moravia during the Neolithic period. Based on the currently available radiocarbon dates, this period lasted for 1800 years. The LBK lasted for 550 years and the MPWC for 1150 years. There is a 100 year hiatus between these cultures, when Moravia was inhabited by people practicing the SPC. With increasing knowledge and more radiocarbon dates, it has become apparent that the current ideas about the development of the Neolithic need revision due to discrepancies between the traditional scheme and new empirical data. Chronology building on the basis of the 14C method is currently the most accurate dating technique for this period.
ARCHEOLOGICKÉ PROSPEKCE A NEDESTRUKTIVNÍ ARCHEOLOGIE v Jihočeském kraji, kraji Vysočina, Jihomoravském kraji a v Dolním Rakousku Sborník z konference, Jindřichův Hradec 6. 3. – 7. 3. 2013, 2013
Předložený článek shrnuje dosavadní výsledky archeologických výzkumů, které vypovídají o minulém... more Předložený článek shrnuje dosavadní výsledky archeologických výzkumů, které vypovídají o minulém osídlení v povodí říčky Únanovky. Zaměřuje se zejména na výsledky projektů povrchových sběrů v této oblasti (Matoušek et al. 2013). Povrchové sběry zde probíhají od roku 2009 za účasti archeologů a studentů katedry archeologie FF MU v Brně. Oblast je již
odedávna díky své poloze a příhodným přírodním podmínkám vhodná pro osídlení, což dokazují četné archeologické výzkumy,
které zde probíhají od 19. století (Podborský – Vildomec 1972; Podborský et al. 2005). Od roku 1956 se centrem systematických výzkumů v této oblasti stala lokalita Těšetice-Kyjovice „Sutny“, která byla objevena při povrchových sběrech. Archeologický výzkum této lokality je prováděn Ústavem archeologie a muzeologie FF MU v Brně. Vědecko-výzkumná archeologická stanice
Těšetice sloužila jako základna při projektu povrchových prospekcí.
Povrchové sběry v povodí říčky Únanovky byly prováděny dvěma způsoby. První metoda se nazývala „Sběry ve čtvercích“ a sloužila k vyhledání dostupných archeologických pramenů z celého území povodí. Druhá užitá metoda, „Bodové sběry“, sloužila k bližšímu zkoumání potencionálních lokalit, které byly vybrány na základě nálezů učiněných při sběrech ve čtvercích. Během obou uvedených typů povrchových sběrů byl kladen důraz i na identifikaci a ověření poloh dříve známých, ale v literatuře nedostatečně publikovaných lokalit. Hlavním cílem povrchových prospekcí v mikroregionu říčky Únanovky bylo vytvoření představy o sídelních strukturách a socioekonomických aspektech pravěkého a raně středověkého osídlení. Projekt sběrů byl tedy zaměřen na vyhledání dosud neznámých lokalit a na průzkum již dříve známých, ale nepřesně chronologicky a prostorově zařazených lokalit. V průběhu celého
projektu bylo objeveno deset nových lokalit. Pro některé již dříve známé lokality bylo možno určit jejich přesnější dataci do fází příslušných kultur. Jako příklad lze uvést lokalitu Únanov „Padělky“ (Kuča et al., v tisku).
Obecně lze říci, že nejvíce nálezů, které potvrzují osídlení v povodí říčky Únanovky, chronologicky náleží do mladší
doby kamenné a raného středověku. Pozitivní nálezy osídlení byly potvrzeny i pro eneolit, dobu bronzovou, dobu halštatskou a protohistorii. Nejméně nálezů v oblasti pochází z paleolitu. Jedná se spíše o jednotlivé artefakty štípané industrie s nejasnou datací.
"An extensive archaeological surface survey was carried out in the river basin of ⁄nanovka in the... more "An extensive archaeological surface survey was carried out in the river basin of ⁄nanovka in the Znojmo district in recent years, during which also the Únanov - "Padělky" site was studied in detail in the autumn of 2012. This site, although discovered shortly after World War II, has not yet examined and the results properly published. Surface survey has yielded many archaeological finds, mainly pottery fragments and quantity of knapped and polished stone industry. Based on the analysis of the found material it was determined the site was settled mainly during the Neolithic period, specifically in times of cultures with linear, stroke-ornamented and Moravian Painted Ware. Besides the Neolithic there were also artifacts of other periods of human history found here. Due to the presence of all major Neolithic cultures the Únanov - Padělky site can be considered as crucial Neolithic archaeological site in the micro-regional context."
ARCHEOLOGICKÉ PROSPEKCE A NEDESTRUKTIVNÍ ARCHEOLOGIE v Jihočeském kraji, kraji Vysočina, Jihomoravském kraji a v Dolním Rakousku Sborník z konference, Jindřichův Hradec 6. 3. – 7. 3. 2013
Surface surveys yield new information extending the previous knowledge about archaeological relic... more Surface surveys yield new information extending the previous knowledge about archaeological relics and the structure of prehistoric and early medieval settlement in the Microregion of Únanovka creek. Apart from the discovery of 10 new sites, relative chronology of some sites was precised.
Moravian Margrave John Henry obtained many estates during his reign, including many castles and t... more Moravian Margrave John Henry obtained many estates during his reign, including many castles and towns. After his death most of them were inherited by his successor Jobst of Moravia (Jošť) and part of them was obtained by his younger sons Procopius and John Sobyeslav (Jan Soběslav). John Sobyeslav became later a bishop of Litomishl (Litomyšl) and transferred his estates to Jobst. Procopius was not satisfied with this deal and Margrave wars were started. Many of sovereigns‘ castles in Moravia were sold, pawned or even destroyed during the wars. The main aim of this paper is to examine the history of Margrave castles in this era (1381-1405) and to describe the relations of their new holders to close and distant cities.
Critical review of German book (in English: Anthropology of Europe : Nations, Types and Gene from... more Critical review of German book (in English: Anthropology of Europe : Nations, Types and Gene from Neanderthal to Recent).
Uploads
Papers by Josef Kovar
and choir to 2nd half of the 15th century (Dufka – Richter 1934; summary of the opinions in Kovář et al. in press). The galleried church was built in a dominant top hill position of the municipal urban area, which (together with some early modern written sources) suggests the existence of a medieval manor house in its vicinity. The keep of the local nobility is historically documented
since the 13th to 16th century, however it disappeared without any trace and it lacks in recent summary casteollogical works from Moravia (Plaček 2001).
Anthropogenic activities on the church hill reach according to current knowledge into time before the foundation of the Muzeum brozura.indd 164 19.12.13 13:10 165 medieval church. The isolated fragments of prehistoric pottery mixed up with modern material were found during the reconstruction works (e. g. Vokáč 2007, 7–10). Due to low information value of these fragments, we may just consider only the preliminarily dating of local activities into the Neolithic and Eneolithic period.
The beginning of a new field research was initiated due to destruction of embankment at the western wall of the cemetery. The combined study of written sources, interview with local respondents and detailed surface survey was able to identify the part of the land west of the parish church, which was intact even with the original ground level. The evaluation of current researches and
views on the development of the church and localization fortress in Březník was provided (Kovář et al. in press, 205–210). The archaeological collections (the Museum of the Vysočina in Třebíč) were examined. Collections contained wheel-pressed graphite pottery fragments dated to the 1st half of 13th century. The study of available archive materials provides the discovery of still
unpublished analysis of church building material written by J. Dvořák. Geographic information systems have been used during the
first phase of the research for evaluation of data set gained by measuring of the total station and GPS, and the creation of digital plans examined in the parish plot georeferenced grid S-JTSK (Fig. 1). Via ArcGIS and Surfer the digital elevation model was created (Fig. 2–3), that identified a partly disappeared field anomaly, which spread under a recent embankment and early modern
period cemetery wall. The observed irregularity in the western part of the parish land could indicate the presence of residues of defunct buildings (Kovář et al. in press), but this hypothesis had to be tested by the other independent data sets. In the second phase of the research of church hill, research team investigated the parish area by application of the
geoarchaeological and geophysical research. The manual soil probe, accuratelly hollow-core drill, was used, (3 cm diameter;
Fig. 4). The transect of the geomorphologic anomaly observed by geodetic measurements was made (Fig. 6) and the probes were
georeferenced using the precise GPS Trimble GeoExplorer 6000 GeoXH (TerraSync software).
For the purposes of geophysical prospecting (Fig. 5) an area of 20 x 7 m was delineated. Because of predicted stone structures the resistive geoelectrical method, namely the method of symmetrical resistance profiling (SRP), was applied. For the field application of this method there have been used the resistive equipment SAS 1000 (ABEM Instrument, Sweden). Due to the nature
of the investigated area, Wenner electrode arrays with spacing of 50 cm and a similar depth range were chosen, measurement step
was implemented in the network 50 x 50 cm (Fig. 5).
The second stage of applications geoarchaeological and geophysical research tentatively confirmed the earlier hypothesis. Using the series of pedological boreholes (Table 1; Fig. 6) it was reconstructed the complex stratigraphic situation of the parish land outside the southwest corner of the cemetery wall, where earlier contexts under relatively young anthropogenic soil horizons
were identified (Fig. 7). The precise dating have to be subject of further research. It can be assumed that these soil horizons could
be connected to the relicts of medieval and early modern anthropogenic activities. In the stratigraphically oldest context it cannot be resigned on its prehistoric origin which probably belongs into the Neolithic and Eneolithic period. The most important result of this research is the finding of geophysical anomalies which indicates the presence of accumulation
of stones (Fig. 6), which could be attributed to the extinct medieval fortresses.
During the next stage of the research, it seems to be necessary to refine the stratigraphic position location, its genesis and dating of each of identified contexts as well as geophysical survey anomalies which were discovered by the prospection. These problems can be solved by the form of more detailed nondestructive or less destructive geoarchaeological and geophysical methods, which
could be supplemented by methods of absolute dating.
Data set obtained by the first two phases of the research is of that importance, that it should be considered the effective application of site excavation method in the following research phase.
Till the year 2009 there was described 5 polished artefacts made of nephrite and 10 - 11 jadeitite axes from Moravia (Štelcl et al. 1973, Přichystal 2009). Now we can add one new nephrite axe from Silesia (collection in the castle of Javorník) and two jadeitite axes from Moravia (Brno-Žebětín and Silůvky).
Nephrite axe from Javorník. The small stone axe (5.8 x 2.7 x 0.6 cm; weight 18.75 g) comes probably from the collection of Wrocław bishops originally deposited in the Jánský Vrch Castle at Javorník and now is placed in the Jeseník museum (i.n. H 7727). Unfortunately it has no localization but its origin in the area of Silesia is almost certain. According to its shape, the artefact corresponds to axes of the Late Neolithic (Eneolithic) age. Based on its appearance and measuring of magnetic susceptibility (0,06 x 10-3 SI) we supposed the polished axe is made of nephrite. To prove this assumption the artefact was investigated using a non-destructive x-ray diffraction. The analysis confirmed monomineral composition represented by a monoclinic amphibole of the actinolite-tremolite group. This unique raw material has natural occurrence at Jordanów Śląski - the only one in the whole eastern part of Central Europe. All signs of the studied axe testify for its origin from the mentioned source.
Jadeitite axe from Brno-Žebětín. The small axe (4.2 x 2.5 x 1.2 cm; weight 22.6 g) was found by P. Škrdla during his surface survey at a known Neolithic locality “U křivé borovice” (Brno-Žebětín) that is dated to the culture with Moravian Painted Ware, phase Ib (Lengyel cultural group). The axe has a usual shape for Neolithic – Eneolithic axes with oval profile and triangular outline. Based on a macroscopic inspection, the raw material was originally supposed to be a serpentinite but its magnetic susceptibility (0.01 – 0.03 x 10-3 SI) does not correspond. Our investigation of thin section using polarizing microscope showed the rock has been composed of jadeite - omphacite pyroxene.
Jadeitite axe from Silůvky (5 km north of Dolní Kounice). The artefact was discovered due to chance by a schoolgirl M. Ambrozková from Silůvky around the year 1995. She found it in a part of the village called “Pod kopcem” where a construction of sewage plant was prepared at that time. The axe has dimensions 7.6 x 4.5 x 1.8 cm, weight 107.39 g and a low magnetic susceptibility (0.10 x 10-3 SI). For determination of its raw material we used again the non-destructive x-ray diffraction performed by D. Všianský.
The provenance of jadeitite axes in Central Europe has been discussed since the second half of the 19th century. A discovery of large prehistoric workshops by Petrequin et al. (2006) around jadeitite – omphacitite – eclogite outcrops on the slopes of Mont Viso Mt. (1700 – 2400 m a.s.l., Cottian Alps, NW Italy) revealed the most important source in Europe with the distribution area of about 1000 km. Another source of jadeitite (pebbles in Tertiary conglomerates) is known from the Beigua Massif near Genova (D´Amico – Starnini 2000), some 120 km to the east of the Mont Viso Mt. According to recent knowledge, there is no reason to doubt about the origin of Moravian jadeitite axes from NW Italy.
References
D´Amico, C. – Starnini, E. 2000: Eclogites, jades and other HP metaophiolites of the Neolithic polished stone tools from Northern Italy. – Krystalinikum 26, 9-20. Brno-Stuttgart.
Petrequin, P. – Errera, M. – Petrequin, A. M. – Allard, P. 2006: The neolithic quarries of Mont Viso (Piedmont, Italy). Initial radiocarbon dates. – European Journal of Archaeology 9, 1, 7-30.
Přichystal, A. 2009: Lithic raw materials in prehistoric times of Eastern Central Europe. – 331 pp. Masaryk University in Brno. (In Czech).
Schmidt, J. – Štelcl, J. 1971: Jadeites from Moravian Neolithic period. – Acta Universitatis Carolinae – Geologica, Hejtman Vol., No. 1,2, 141-152. Prague.
odedávna díky své poloze a příhodným přírodním podmínkám vhodná pro osídlení, což dokazují četné archeologické výzkumy,
které zde probíhají od 19. století (Podborský – Vildomec 1972; Podborský et al. 2005). Od roku 1956 se centrem systematických výzkumů v této oblasti stala lokalita Těšetice-Kyjovice „Sutny“, která byla objevena při povrchových sběrech. Archeologický výzkum této lokality je prováděn Ústavem archeologie a muzeologie FF MU v Brně. Vědecko-výzkumná archeologická stanice
Těšetice sloužila jako základna při projektu povrchových prospekcí.
Povrchové sběry v povodí říčky Únanovky byly prováděny dvěma způsoby. První metoda se nazývala „Sběry ve čtvercích“ a sloužila k vyhledání dostupných archeologických pramenů z celého území povodí. Druhá užitá metoda, „Bodové sběry“, sloužila k bližšímu zkoumání potencionálních lokalit, které byly vybrány na základě nálezů učiněných při sběrech ve čtvercích. Během obou uvedených typů povrchových sběrů byl kladen důraz i na identifikaci a ověření poloh dříve známých, ale v literatuře nedostatečně publikovaných lokalit. Hlavním cílem povrchových prospekcí v mikroregionu říčky Únanovky bylo vytvoření představy o sídelních strukturách a socioekonomických aspektech pravěkého a raně středověkého osídlení. Projekt sběrů byl tedy zaměřen na vyhledání dosud neznámých lokalit a na průzkum již dříve známých, ale nepřesně chronologicky a prostorově zařazených lokalit. V průběhu celého
projektu bylo objeveno deset nových lokalit. Pro některé již dříve známé lokality bylo možno určit jejich přesnější dataci do fází příslušných kultur. Jako příklad lze uvést lokalitu Únanov „Padělky“ (Kuča et al., v tisku).
Obecně lze říci, že nejvíce nálezů, které potvrzují osídlení v povodí říčky Únanovky, chronologicky náleží do mladší
doby kamenné a raného středověku. Pozitivní nálezy osídlení byly potvrzeny i pro eneolit, dobu bronzovou, dobu halštatskou a protohistorii. Nejméně nálezů v oblasti pochází z paleolitu. Jedná se spíše o jednotlivé artefakty štípané industrie s nejasnou datací.
and choir to 2nd half of the 15th century (Dufka – Richter 1934; summary of the opinions in Kovář et al. in press). The galleried church was built in a dominant top hill position of the municipal urban area, which (together with some early modern written sources) suggests the existence of a medieval manor house in its vicinity. The keep of the local nobility is historically documented
since the 13th to 16th century, however it disappeared without any trace and it lacks in recent summary casteollogical works from Moravia (Plaček 2001).
Anthropogenic activities on the church hill reach according to current knowledge into time before the foundation of the Muzeum brozura.indd 164 19.12.13 13:10 165 medieval church. The isolated fragments of prehistoric pottery mixed up with modern material were found during the reconstruction works (e. g. Vokáč 2007, 7–10). Due to low information value of these fragments, we may just consider only the preliminarily dating of local activities into the Neolithic and Eneolithic period.
The beginning of a new field research was initiated due to destruction of embankment at the western wall of the cemetery. The combined study of written sources, interview with local respondents and detailed surface survey was able to identify the part of the land west of the parish church, which was intact even with the original ground level. The evaluation of current researches and
views on the development of the church and localization fortress in Březník was provided (Kovář et al. in press, 205–210). The archaeological collections (the Museum of the Vysočina in Třebíč) were examined. Collections contained wheel-pressed graphite pottery fragments dated to the 1st half of 13th century. The study of available archive materials provides the discovery of still
unpublished analysis of church building material written by J. Dvořák. Geographic information systems have been used during the
first phase of the research for evaluation of data set gained by measuring of the total station and GPS, and the creation of digital plans examined in the parish plot georeferenced grid S-JTSK (Fig. 1). Via ArcGIS and Surfer the digital elevation model was created (Fig. 2–3), that identified a partly disappeared field anomaly, which spread under a recent embankment and early modern
period cemetery wall. The observed irregularity in the western part of the parish land could indicate the presence of residues of defunct buildings (Kovář et al. in press), but this hypothesis had to be tested by the other independent data sets. In the second phase of the research of church hill, research team investigated the parish area by application of the
geoarchaeological and geophysical research. The manual soil probe, accuratelly hollow-core drill, was used, (3 cm diameter;
Fig. 4). The transect of the geomorphologic anomaly observed by geodetic measurements was made (Fig. 6) and the probes were
georeferenced using the precise GPS Trimble GeoExplorer 6000 GeoXH (TerraSync software).
For the purposes of geophysical prospecting (Fig. 5) an area of 20 x 7 m was delineated. Because of predicted stone structures the resistive geoelectrical method, namely the method of symmetrical resistance profiling (SRP), was applied. For the field application of this method there have been used the resistive equipment SAS 1000 (ABEM Instrument, Sweden). Due to the nature
of the investigated area, Wenner electrode arrays with spacing of 50 cm and a similar depth range were chosen, measurement step
was implemented in the network 50 x 50 cm (Fig. 5).
The second stage of applications geoarchaeological and geophysical research tentatively confirmed the earlier hypothesis. Using the series of pedological boreholes (Table 1; Fig. 6) it was reconstructed the complex stratigraphic situation of the parish land outside the southwest corner of the cemetery wall, where earlier contexts under relatively young anthropogenic soil horizons
were identified (Fig. 7). The precise dating have to be subject of further research. It can be assumed that these soil horizons could
be connected to the relicts of medieval and early modern anthropogenic activities. In the stratigraphically oldest context it cannot be resigned on its prehistoric origin which probably belongs into the Neolithic and Eneolithic period. The most important result of this research is the finding of geophysical anomalies which indicates the presence of accumulation
of stones (Fig. 6), which could be attributed to the extinct medieval fortresses.
During the next stage of the research, it seems to be necessary to refine the stratigraphic position location, its genesis and dating of each of identified contexts as well as geophysical survey anomalies which were discovered by the prospection. These problems can be solved by the form of more detailed nondestructive or less destructive geoarchaeological and geophysical methods, which
could be supplemented by methods of absolute dating.
Data set obtained by the first two phases of the research is of that importance, that it should be considered the effective application of site excavation method in the following research phase.
Till the year 2009 there was described 5 polished artefacts made of nephrite and 10 - 11 jadeitite axes from Moravia (Štelcl et al. 1973, Přichystal 2009). Now we can add one new nephrite axe from Silesia (collection in the castle of Javorník) and two jadeitite axes from Moravia (Brno-Žebětín and Silůvky).
Nephrite axe from Javorník. The small stone axe (5.8 x 2.7 x 0.6 cm; weight 18.75 g) comes probably from the collection of Wrocław bishops originally deposited in the Jánský Vrch Castle at Javorník and now is placed in the Jeseník museum (i.n. H 7727). Unfortunately it has no localization but its origin in the area of Silesia is almost certain. According to its shape, the artefact corresponds to axes of the Late Neolithic (Eneolithic) age. Based on its appearance and measuring of magnetic susceptibility (0,06 x 10-3 SI) we supposed the polished axe is made of nephrite. To prove this assumption the artefact was investigated using a non-destructive x-ray diffraction. The analysis confirmed monomineral composition represented by a monoclinic amphibole of the actinolite-tremolite group. This unique raw material has natural occurrence at Jordanów Śląski - the only one in the whole eastern part of Central Europe. All signs of the studied axe testify for its origin from the mentioned source.
Jadeitite axe from Brno-Žebětín. The small axe (4.2 x 2.5 x 1.2 cm; weight 22.6 g) was found by P. Škrdla during his surface survey at a known Neolithic locality “U křivé borovice” (Brno-Žebětín) that is dated to the culture with Moravian Painted Ware, phase Ib (Lengyel cultural group). The axe has a usual shape for Neolithic – Eneolithic axes with oval profile and triangular outline. Based on a macroscopic inspection, the raw material was originally supposed to be a serpentinite but its magnetic susceptibility (0.01 – 0.03 x 10-3 SI) does not correspond. Our investigation of thin section using polarizing microscope showed the rock has been composed of jadeite - omphacite pyroxene.
Jadeitite axe from Silůvky (5 km north of Dolní Kounice). The artefact was discovered due to chance by a schoolgirl M. Ambrozková from Silůvky around the year 1995. She found it in a part of the village called “Pod kopcem” where a construction of sewage plant was prepared at that time. The axe has dimensions 7.6 x 4.5 x 1.8 cm, weight 107.39 g and a low magnetic susceptibility (0.10 x 10-3 SI). For determination of its raw material we used again the non-destructive x-ray diffraction performed by D. Všianský.
The provenance of jadeitite axes in Central Europe has been discussed since the second half of the 19th century. A discovery of large prehistoric workshops by Petrequin et al. (2006) around jadeitite – omphacitite – eclogite outcrops on the slopes of Mont Viso Mt. (1700 – 2400 m a.s.l., Cottian Alps, NW Italy) revealed the most important source in Europe with the distribution area of about 1000 km. Another source of jadeitite (pebbles in Tertiary conglomerates) is known from the Beigua Massif near Genova (D´Amico – Starnini 2000), some 120 km to the east of the Mont Viso Mt. According to recent knowledge, there is no reason to doubt about the origin of Moravian jadeitite axes from NW Italy.
References
D´Amico, C. – Starnini, E. 2000: Eclogites, jades and other HP metaophiolites of the Neolithic polished stone tools from Northern Italy. – Krystalinikum 26, 9-20. Brno-Stuttgart.
Petrequin, P. – Errera, M. – Petrequin, A. M. – Allard, P. 2006: The neolithic quarries of Mont Viso (Piedmont, Italy). Initial radiocarbon dates. – European Journal of Archaeology 9, 1, 7-30.
Přichystal, A. 2009: Lithic raw materials in prehistoric times of Eastern Central Europe. – 331 pp. Masaryk University in Brno. (In Czech).
Schmidt, J. – Štelcl, J. 1971: Jadeites from Moravian Neolithic period. – Acta Universitatis Carolinae – Geologica, Hejtman Vol., No. 1,2, 141-152. Prague.
odedávna díky své poloze a příhodným přírodním podmínkám vhodná pro osídlení, což dokazují četné archeologické výzkumy,
které zde probíhají od 19. století (Podborský – Vildomec 1972; Podborský et al. 2005). Od roku 1956 se centrem systematických výzkumů v této oblasti stala lokalita Těšetice-Kyjovice „Sutny“, která byla objevena při povrchových sběrech. Archeologický výzkum této lokality je prováděn Ústavem archeologie a muzeologie FF MU v Brně. Vědecko-výzkumná archeologická stanice
Těšetice sloužila jako základna při projektu povrchových prospekcí.
Povrchové sběry v povodí říčky Únanovky byly prováděny dvěma způsoby. První metoda se nazývala „Sběry ve čtvercích“ a sloužila k vyhledání dostupných archeologických pramenů z celého území povodí. Druhá užitá metoda, „Bodové sběry“, sloužila k bližšímu zkoumání potencionálních lokalit, které byly vybrány na základě nálezů učiněných při sběrech ve čtvercích. Během obou uvedených typů povrchových sběrů byl kladen důraz i na identifikaci a ověření poloh dříve známých, ale v literatuře nedostatečně publikovaných lokalit. Hlavním cílem povrchových prospekcí v mikroregionu říčky Únanovky bylo vytvoření představy o sídelních strukturách a socioekonomických aspektech pravěkého a raně středověkého osídlení. Projekt sběrů byl tedy zaměřen na vyhledání dosud neznámých lokalit a na průzkum již dříve známých, ale nepřesně chronologicky a prostorově zařazených lokalit. V průběhu celého
projektu bylo objeveno deset nových lokalit. Pro některé již dříve známé lokality bylo možno určit jejich přesnější dataci do fází příslušných kultur. Jako příklad lze uvést lokalitu Únanov „Padělky“ (Kuča et al., v tisku).
Obecně lze říci, že nejvíce nálezů, které potvrzují osídlení v povodí říčky Únanovky, chronologicky náleží do mladší
doby kamenné a raného středověku. Pozitivní nálezy osídlení byly potvrzeny i pro eneolit, dobu bronzovou, dobu halštatskou a protohistorii. Nejméně nálezů v oblasti pochází z paleolitu. Jedná se spíše o jednotlivé artefakty štípané industrie s nejasnou datací.