Among many prehistoric hillforts of the Western Carpathians the one located at Maszkowice village displays unique traits. The site was excavated in 1960s and 1970s, but it was not until 2015 that the new field project revealed remains of... more
Among many prehistoric hillforts of the Western Carpathians the one located at Maszkowice village displays unique traits. The site was excavated in 1960s and 1970s, but it was not until 2015 that the new
field project revealed remains of massive stone fortifi cations. Th e wall of the Zyndram’s Hill is dated to the Early Bronze Age (18th century BC), being one of the earliest examples of defensive stone architecture in Europe outside Mediterranean. In our paper we shall discuss the development of the defensive system with its geographical and settlement context. Considering the results of fieldwork and other applied methods we can assume, that the enclosed settlement in Maszkowice functioned as an isolated point located in scarcely populated area. Therefore, we need to stress the landscape and geological circumstances which played a
significant role in inner layout organization, social perception and the development of settlement and its fortifications. Th e stone wall was erected already at the beginning of the site’s occupation. Th e defensive
system existed then in its most elaborated form (with at least two gates leading into the village), while later during several dozen years the fortifications slowly but constantly deteriorated. Finally, in conclusion we
shall consider the stone wall of Zyndram’s Hill not as a product of local adaptation, but as a result of a prepared execution of a project.
field project revealed remains of massive stone fortifi cations. Th e wall of the Zyndram’s Hill is dated to the Early Bronze Age (18th century BC), being one of the earliest examples of defensive stone architecture in Europe outside Mediterranean. In our paper we shall discuss the development of the defensive system with its geographical and settlement context. Considering the results of fieldwork and other applied methods we can assume, that the enclosed settlement in Maszkowice functioned as an isolated point located in scarcely populated area. Therefore, we need to stress the landscape and geological circumstances which played a
significant role in inner layout organization, social perception and the development of settlement and its fortifications. Th e stone wall was erected already at the beginning of the site’s occupation. Th e defensive
system existed then in its most elaborated form (with at least two gates leading into the village), while later during several dozen years the fortifications slowly but constantly deteriorated. Finally, in conclusion we
shall consider the stone wall of Zyndram’s Hill not as a product of local adaptation, but as a result of a prepared execution of a project.
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The complex and intriguing character of archaeological record identified in Maszkowice has been recently explored by the project run in the Archaeology Department of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. The special emphasis has been put... more
The complex and intriguing character of archaeological record identified in Maszkowice has been recently explored by the project run in the Archaeology Department of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. The special emphasis has been put on the earliest phases of the settlement, dating to the Early and Middle Bronze Age. Both building structures and ceramic materials coming from those times represent foreign connections. The Late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age bring significant changes into the character of Masz-kowice hillfort. Microregional studies indicate the emergence of new settlements in the area, which must have imposed certain changes on the local economic and social relations, and the role Maszkowice settlement played in this network might have been dominant.
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Among the many prehistoric hillforts of the Western Carpathians the one located at Maszkowice village displays unique traits. The site occupied hilltop plateau of a small promontory (c. 0.5 ha), called Zyndram’s Hill and dominating over... more
Among the many prehistoric hillforts of the Western Carpathians the one located at Maszkowice village displays unique traits. The site occupied hilltop plateau of a small promontory (c. 0.5 ha), called Zyndram’s Hill and dominating over the Dunajec valley. Large scale excavations in 1960s and 1970s recognized numerous traces of the Late Bronze and Iron Age households, but it was not until 2010 that the new field project revealed well preserved remains of the Otomani-Füzesabony culture settlement, including massive stone fortifications of its first building phase. The wall of the Zyndram’s Hill is dated to 18th century BC being one of the earliest examples of defensive stone architecture in Europe outside Mediterranean. The history of the Early/Middle Bronze Age occupation can be divided into three building phases. During the second and third one the stone construction served as a retaining wall. Remains of a few houses of this time survived and were subject of investigations in 2010–2017.
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The aim of our paper is a short presentation of main features of the fortified settlement located at the very edge of the OFCC area, in Maszkowice village (southern Poland). We shall focus consecutively on geographical and settlement... more
The aim of our paper is a short presentation of main features of the fortified settlement located at the very edge of the OFCC area, in Maszkowice village (southern Poland). We shall focus consecutively on geographical and settlement context, range of the site, current state of research, methodology of excavations and material analysis, chronological framework of the site and finally detailed description of the OFCC settlement and its subsequent building phases.
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Excavations at the Early Bronze Age fortified settlement in Maszkowice (Western Carpathians) carried out in 1959-1975 and 2010-2017 produced, among other finds, a collection of 56 artifacts made of bone, antler, teeth and horn. They were... more
Excavations at the Early Bronze Age fortified settlement in Maszkowice (Western Carpathians) carried out in 1959-1975 and 2010-2017 produced, among other finds, a collection of 56 artifacts made of bone, antler, teeth and horn. They were classified using formal criteria (size, shape, decoration), as well as character of use-wear
traces into four types of ornaments (plaque, pendants, pins, dress items made of long bones) and seven types of
tools (awls, perforators, spatulas, tanning tool, polishers, antler picks and hafted chopping tools). In the description of each type, we focus on its functional interpretation, discussing some opinions already existing in the literature. In the final section of the paper, we also analyze the frequency of each type in different contexts, as well as on the site in general.
traces into four types of ornaments (plaque, pendants, pins, dress items made of long bones) and seven types of
tools (awls, perforators, spatulas, tanning tool, polishers, antler picks and hafted chopping tools). In the description of each type, we focus on its functional interpretation, discussing some opinions already existing in the literature. In the final section of the paper, we also analyze the frequency of each type in different contexts, as well as on the site in general.
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The paper discusses the development of pottery traditions in the Carpathian Basin around 1600 BC. Set of data describing decoration of vessels originating from 94 archaeological sites is analysed using tools developed by so called network... more
The paper discusses the development of pottery traditions in the Carpathian Basin around 1600 BC. Set of data describing decoration of vessels originating from 94 archaeological sites is analysed using tools developed by so called network science. Results of this investigation are confronted with the current discussion concerning the cultural change at the transition of Middle and Late Bronze Age. In the last part of the paper I try to draw more general conclusions as regard the nature of social networks in prehistory.
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European archaeology of the last decades tends to focus on the subject of distant contacts – the exchange of goods and ideas – and the influence they have on local populations and their development. One of the problems particularly often... more
European archaeology of the last decades tends to focus on the subject of distant contacts – the exchange of goods and ideas – and the influence they have on local populations and their development. One of the problems particularly often discussed in this context is the reception of cultural patterns of the Mediterranean by societies of the Central
European Early Bronze Age. Archaeological sites outstanding from local cultural background deserve special attention when studying this issue. The example of such a location is the hillfort in Maszkowice (Western Carpathians). The site was subject to archaeological excavations already in the middle of the 20th century. Studies carried out there again
from 2010 resulted in setting the chronology of the oldest settlement remains for 1750-1500 BC, as well as proving the relations of its first inhabitants with the eastern part of the Carpathian Basin. An absolutely spectacular result of these works was achieved in 2015, when relics of massive stone fortifications dating from around 1750 BC, were discovered. It is one of the few oldest examples of advanced stone architecture in Europe, excluding the Mediterranean, and at the
same time the oldest construction of this kind in the areas north to the Carpathians. The wall is about 2 m wide and consists of an inner part built of smaller stones, and the massive outer face. During the excavations in 2015 the eastern entrance into the fortified area was revealed, too – a ramp cutting across the stone wall and adjacent clay terrace and flanked by large sandstone slabs. As regards the type of masonry and architectonical solutions, the construction discovered
from Maszkowice finds the closest, contemporary analogies in some sites from the Alps and the Caput Adriae region.
European Early Bronze Age. Archaeological sites outstanding from local cultural background deserve special attention when studying this issue. The example of such a location is the hillfort in Maszkowice (Western Carpathians). The site was subject to archaeological excavations already in the middle of the 20th century. Studies carried out there again
from 2010 resulted in setting the chronology of the oldest settlement remains for 1750-1500 BC, as well as proving the relations of its first inhabitants with the eastern part of the Carpathian Basin. An absolutely spectacular result of these works was achieved in 2015, when relics of massive stone fortifications dating from around 1750 BC, were discovered. It is one of the few oldest examples of advanced stone architecture in Europe, excluding the Mediterranean, and at the
same time the oldest construction of this kind in the areas north to the Carpathians. The wall is about 2 m wide and consists of an inner part built of smaller stones, and the massive outer face. During the excavations in 2015 the eastern entrance into the fortified area was revealed, too – a ramp cutting across the stone wall and adjacent clay terrace and flanked by large sandstone slabs. As regards the type of masonry and architectonical solutions, the construction discovered
from Maszkowice finds the closest, contemporary analogies in some sites from the Alps and the Caput Adriae region.
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The article presents new research on fortified settlements from the Early Iron Age in the Orava and Dunajec river valleys. Based on the characteristics of the construction of the fortifications and similarities in terms of material... more
The article presents new research on fortified settlements from the Early Iron Age in the Orava and Dunajec river valleys. Based on the characteristics of the construction of the fortifications and similarities in terms of material culture, we propose recognizing the hillforts discovered here as a manifestation of one cultural and settlement horizon related to the so-called Pre-Púchov stage. The radiocarbon determinations obtained for the contexts stratigraphically related to the ramparts from the Nižná-Ostražica, Zabrzeż-Babia Góra, and Maszkowice-Góra Zyndrama sites are already located on the calibration curve after the so-called Hallstatt plateau and allow this horizon to be dated to the 4th century BC, i.e. to the times corresponding to the La Tène B1–B2 phases. Our observations confirm the opinions appearing in more recent literature about the need to date the Pre-Púchov stage in Slovakia earlier, and discuss the thesis about the continuation of settlement at the beginning of the La Tène period. With regard to the Polish Carpathian zone, arguments indicating the possibility of the survival of settlements with Early Iron Age traditions up to the 4th century BC are presented for the first time. This allows us to assume that the process of the formation of the cultural tradition of the La Tène period here progressed in a similar manner to Slovakia, and it was not solely the result of migration from the latter.
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Among many prehistoric hillforts of the Western Carpathians the one located at Maszkowice village displays unique traits. Th e site was excavated in 1960s and 1970s, but it was not until 2015 that the new fi eld project revealed remains... more
Among many prehistoric hillforts of the Western Carpathians the one located at Maszkowice village displays unique traits. Th e site was excavated in 1960s and 1970s, but it was not until 2015 that the new fi eld project revealed remains of massive stone fortifi cations. Th e wall of the Zyndram’s Hill is dated to the Early Bronze Age (18th century BC), being one of the earliest examples of defensive stone architecture in Europe outside Mediterranean. In our paper we shall discuss the development of the defensive system with its geographical and settlement context. Considering the results of fi eldwork and other applied methods we can assume, that the enclosed settlement in Maszkowice functioned as an isolated point located in scarcely populated area. Th erefore, we need to stress the landscape and geological circumstances which played a signifi cant role in inner layout organization, social perception and the development of settlement and its fortifi cations. Th e stone wall was erected already at the beginning of the site’s occupation. Th e defensive system existed then in its most elaborated form (with at least two gates leading into the village), while later during several dozen years the fortifi cations slowly but constantly deteriorated. Finally, in conclusion we shall consider the stone wall of Zyndram’s Hill not as a product of local adaptation, but as a result of a prepared execution of a project.
Research Interests:
The aim of our paper is a short presentation of main features of the fortified settlement located at the very edge of the OFCC area, in Maszkowice village (southern Poland). We shall focus consecutively on geographical and settlement... more
The aim of our paper is a short presentation of
main features of the fortified settlement located at
the very edge of the OFCC area, in Maszkowice
village (southern Poland). We shall focus
consecutively on geographical and settlement
context, range of the site, current state of research,
methodology of excavations and material analysis,
chronological framework of the site and finally
detailed description of the OFCC settlement and its
subsequent building phases.
main features of the fortified settlement located at
the very edge of the OFCC area, in Maszkowice
village (southern Poland). We shall focus
consecutively on geographical and settlement
context, range of the site, current state of research,
methodology of excavations and material analysis,
chronological framework of the site and finally
detailed description of the OFCC settlement and its
subsequent building phases.