Fasciculi Archaeologiae Historicae

Model of the Formal and Functional Evolution of a Private Feudal Residence in Late Medieval Poland

2025-12-30T12:58:55+00:00

This article analyses the evolution of private feudal seats in late medieval Poland on the example of the Pałuka family from northeastern Greater Poland. The authors present the history of research on the feudal residences and underscore the significance of an interdisciplinary approach that combines archaeology and an analysis of written sources. This paper discusses the spatial and functional development of the castle in Gołańcz and the residences in Danabórz and Łekno, noting the variability of the forms and uses of these structures. The present investigation has revealed the existence of four alternative variants of the residences’ evolution: from a simple house connected with manor (mainly farm) outbuildings in manor complexes (1), a residential-farm manor with a defensive fortalicium (2), a residential and defensive fortalicium with a manorial farmstead (3), and a castle (4). We highlight the role of the regalian right to fortification in the formation of knightly manorial complexes. Our study points to the necessity of further interdisciplinary research and a wider identification of field and written sources. We consider the evolution model proposed here as credible for the Pałuki microregion, but open for comparison to other areas of Poland.

Church-Hospital Complex of the Holy Spirit in Szydłów (Lesser Poland) in the Light of Field Research and Against a Comparative Background

2025-12-30T13:00:29+00:00

This article presents the results of an archaeological and architectural investigation of the church and hospital complex of the Holy Spirit in Szydłów, one of the most interesting surviving examples of this type of layout in Poland. This study analyses the structural evolution of this site from the 16^th to the 18^th century, and reconstructs its successive development phases based on written sources, field studies and analysis of anthropological burials. Special attention was given to the complex’s social and sepulchral uses, as well as its place against the background of hospital management in Poland and Europe. This study highlights the significance of future interdisciplinary studies of similar sites, which allow us to gain further insight into the transformation of the spatial disposition of hospital and sepulchral complexes that occurred between the Middle Ages and the modern period. They were marked by the narrowing of the religious sphere in favour of the secular functionalization of space and the separation of these once equivalent contents, with their long-term interpenetration evident in the example of the provincial Szydłów project up to the end of the 18^th century.

Livestock Burials from the 18th-century Semonice (Czechia): Insights from Zooarcheological Studies

2025-12-30T13:00:31+00:00

The study focuses on the findings of animal burials from the 18th century, which were excavated during archaeological research in the cadastre of the village of Semonice (Czechia). Ten pits contained more or less complete skeletons of cattle and horses, and two pits with superimposed parts of livestock skeletons. Most of them were adult and subadult animals, but in some cases, the remains of calves were also mixed in. No traces of butchering were recorded on the bones, and due to the high number of individuals recorded, it is hypothesised that these are animals that died during an epizootic. Hypothetically, it is possible to assume a connection between the cattle burials and the military camp that was located at the same site.

‘Lexicon of Katyn Archaeology (1990–2015)’. An Attempt at Consilience, a Model of Integrative Perspective

2025-12-30T13:05:48+00:00

This article discusses the main assumptions and methodological procedures used in the ‘Lexicon of Katyn Archaeology (1990–2015)’ project. The authors highlight the research and social significance of archaeological research into the Katyn Massacre. They discuss and explain the need for an integrative methodological perspective (archaeology, history, ethnography – cultural anthropology) that allows for the reconstruction and recognition of the significance of archaeological research, as well as the massacre itself, in aspects that sometimes escape historical studies, archaeological reports, and analytical scholarly texts – in biographical, personal, and emotional contexts.

Review of Łukasz Antosik, Wczesnośredniowieczne włókiennictwo na Śląsku (XI–XIII wiek) / Early Medieval Textile Production in Silesia (10th–13th century). Łódź 2025, pp. 315, published by Instytut Archeologii i Etnologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk

2025-12-30T13:05:50+00:00

The textile production, and in particular drapery, was already highly developed in late medieval Silesia when the intensive urbanisation and colonisation of Silesia and the cultural breakthrough took place in the early 13th century and became, to a large extent, the driving force behind the civilisational and economic growth of the Silesian towns established at that time. This was particularly manifested through the development of market squares, which were the economic heart of every town and where the stalls of Silesian clothiers occupied a central place usually in the form of cloth halls built at great expense from stone and brick, which were the foundations of later market square blocks.1 For this reason, for years there have been calls for synthetic research into early medieval textile production in Silesia to identify the roots of the high level of craftsmanship that developed in this province.

Review of Zdeněk Schenk and Petr Žákovský, Švédský polní tábor u Horní Moštěnice. Třicetiletá válka na Přerovsku ve světle archeologických a historických pramenů

2025-12-30T13:05:51+00:00

In the reviewed publication, the Swedish military camp near Horní Moštěnice became a pretext for a broader presentation of the archaeological traces of the Thirty Years’ War in Moravia. The authors devote only part of the book to the camp mentioned in the title, focusing on presenting events related to the Thirty Years’ War – one of the longest conflicts in modern European history, which left many physical traces in Moravia and Czech Silesia in the form of battlefields, fortifications, and other sites, such as military camps – primarily from an archaeological perspective.

Review of Jacek Konik, Głosy zabitego miasta. Wstępna prezentacja rezultatów badań archeologicznych na terenie dawnego getta warszawskiego w latach 2021-2022

2025-12-30T13:05:52+00:00

The publication reviewed here, under the evocative title Voices of a Murdered City, discusses the results of the recent fieldwork carried out in 2021 and 2022 in two locations: 1) along Świętojerska Street, at the northern border of the Krasiński Garden, in the area of the former workshops known as the Broom-maker’s shed, and 2) in the square at the intersection of Miła and Stanisława Dubois
Streets, north of the so-called Anielewicz’s Mound, where the headquarters of the Jewish Combat Organisation were located. Excavations were conducted in cooperation with the Chief Rabbi of Poland, Michael Schudrich, and the Rabbinical Commission for Cemeteries, since there was a possibility of finding human remains – those of deceased Jews.

The Fourth Annual Conference Archaeology of Conflicts 2025 in Hradec Králové

2025-12-30T13:05:53+00:00

From 23rd to 25th September 2025, the international conference Archaeology of Conflicts / Archeologie konfliktů took place in Hradec Králové, which focused on the research on material, landscape, and anthropological aspects of warfare from prehistory to the present day. The conference was jointly organised by the Department of Archaeology of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Hradec Králové and the Museum of Eastern Bohemia in Hradec Králové.

Early Medieval Iron Axe from a Stronghold in Szydłów near Lutomiersk (Central Poland)

2025-12-30T13:05:44+00:00

This paper presents an iron axe discovered in 1960 during archaeological research carried out at the Szydłów stronghold near Lutomiersk (Central Poland). The weapon was discussed typologically (variant IB.12.2 according to Piotr Kotowicz’s classification) and was subjected to metallographic and technological analyses. The axe head from Szydłów appears to be a product made with simple methods, without the use of more advanced manufacturing techniques to improve its fighting qualities. The analytical material obtained indicates the use of phosphorus iron from bog ores in the production of the axe. It can be assumed that the axe discovered at the Szydłów stronghold dates back to the 10th century. It could have been connected with the final stage of the stronghold’s existence (a fire suggesting military action), or with its presumed later settlement.

Wooden Crossbow Bolt from Hrodna: a Small Children’s Toy as Evidence of Significant Changes in Weaponry of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

2025-12-30T13:05:46+00:00

This article discusses the discovery of a wooden toy crossbow bolt, unearthed in 1987 during excavations at the Old Castle in Hrodna (Belarus). It is dated to the second half or the end of the 14th century. While the find offers valuable insights into medieval children’s games, it is also a significant piece of evidence for the widespread use of crossbows in the armament of the largest castle garrisons of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the late 14th to early 15th centuries.

Militaria, Horse-riding Equipment and Horse Tack from the Excavations of the Late Medieval and Early Modern Residence at Żelechów (Mazovia)

2025-12-30T13:05:47+00:00

During multi-season archaeological investigations of the Ciołek family’s seat in Żelechów, situated on the borderland of present-day Mazovian and Lublin voivodeships, a large assemblage of artefacts was collected, mostly from well-dated cultural layers. For analysis we selected 20 artefacts belonging to three functional groups: elements of horse-riding equipment, horse tack and militaria. Alongside a detailed description of their state of preservation, metrics and dating, examples of analogous finds from other late medieval and early modern sites in Poland are provided.