The problem of dating the beginning of the central settlements of the Brześć Kujawski culture. The case of radiocarbon dating of site 3 at Żegotki, Strzelno commune

Kalina Więcaszek; Lech Czerniak

doi:10.23858/SA/77.2025.2.4006

Published: 2025-12-16

Vol. 77 No. 2 (2025)

The problem of dating the beginning of the central settlements of the Brześć Kujawski culture. The case of radiocarbon dating of site 3 at Żegotki, Strzelno commune

Kalina Więcaszek , Lech Czerniak

Sprawozdania Archeologiczne

Section: Articles

https://doi.org/10.23858/SA/77.2025.2.4006

Abstract

One of the most characteristic elements of the Brześć Kujawski culture (4350-4000 cal. BC) were central settlements distinguished by dense development in the form of longhouses and associated graves, a large area (on average 3-6 ha), and a long period of use. A controversial issue is the dating of the beginning of this type of settlement (4600/4500 cal. BC versus 4350 cal. BC) and, consequently, of a given culture.
The article aims to analyse six radiocarbon dates from a previously unpublished central settlement in Żegotki, Strzelno commune (Site 3), excavated in 1995. Each date refers to a separate house, giving a general picture of the settlement chronology within the range of 4300-3980 cal. BC. This finding is consistent with the general BKC dating model (Czerniak et al. 2016) and the dating of the settlement in Osłonki (Budd et al. 2020).

Keywords:

Neolithic, Central Europe, Brześć Kujawski culture, longhouses, chronology

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Więcaszek, K., & Czerniak, L. (2025). The problem of dating the beginning of the central settlements of the Brześć Kujawski culture. The case of radiocarbon dating of site 3 at Żegotki, Strzelno commune. Sprawozdania Archeologiczne, 77(2), 65–84. https://doi.org/10.23858/SA/77.2025.2.4006

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Kalina Więcaszek

kalina.wiecaszek@phdstud.ug.edu.pl
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3162-9480

Affiliation:

Institute of Archaeology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland, Poland

Lech Czerniak

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0352-5385

Affiliation:

Institute of Archaeology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland, Poland

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Lech Czerniak (Habilitation 1994, Polish Academy of Sciences) is Retired Professor of Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology, University of Gdańsk. His main interests include the Neolithic of Central Europe and Anatolia, in particular the cultures of the Danubian world, household archaeology, and Neolithic monumental architecture. He led excavations in the Kuyavia and Lesser Poland regions. Recently, he also led excavations on the rondel in Nowe Objezierze, located in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland, which is currently considered the northernmost rondel in Europe.