History of research
16.12.2020
HISTORY OF RESEARCH
For centuries this legendary place has been known as the “Royal Earthworks”. Situated on a steep promontory over the flat bottom of the Ropa Valley (latitude 49º44’00’’; longitude 21º25’53’’) and with a gradient of 20-40º on its precipitous slopes, the elevation and hillfort at its crest rise over 30 m above the lowland surrounding it on three sides. This is one of the principal archaeological sites in Poland and has been entered into the national register of historic monuments. This is a site of paramount importance historically and culturally. Its natural barriers to easy access protected it against destruction. The defensive settlements which Gancarski and his team discovered here are the oldest found hitherto in Poland, with the earliest signs of the influence of the Anatolian-Balkan Civilisation. The site is also the location of one of the oldest and best-preserved Slavonic hillforts (770 - 1031 AD), stretching over an area of nearly 3.5 hectares. There are surviving defensive earthworks around it which still rise to an impressive height of up to 10 m.
In the early 19th century 3 effigies of pagan gods were discovered here. By the 19th century, the place had claimed the attention of scholars of antiquities, and in the 20th century, numerous archaeological excavations were conducted here. The first fully professional research project was carried out in 1957, by the Carpathian Archaeological Expedition led by Andrzej Żaki. Further excavations were conducted in 1958 and 1962 by the archaeologist A. Kunysz, who confirmed the presence of an Early Mediaeval hillfort and discovered artefacts dated to other, prehistoric periods. Later M. Parczewski identified some of the ceramic finds as belonging to the Mierzanowice Culture. But it was not until the turn of the century that a series of sensational discoveries were made which brought Trzcinica its fame, in research accomplished in 1991-1998 and 2005-2009 under the leadership of Jan Gancarski, who confirmed the presence of artefacts belonging to the Otomani-Füzesabony Culture. Gancarski’s interdisciplinary projects covering an area of over 20 ares.
People erected a defensive settlement here at the beginning of the Bronze Age. It was defended by a wooden rampart with a palisade, a ditch and the steepness of the slopes itself. The hillfort was inhabited by the peoples of the Pleszów group, Mierzanowice culture (2100-1650 BC) who were under strong Transcarpathian cultural influences. The heavily fortified settlement of the Pleszów group encompassed the area of 60 ares and was flanked by earthwork (with walls made of wood and filled with soil) on the south and west. The remaining sides were defended by very steep slopes and a palisade. The entrance gate was situated from the western upland. The Pleszów Group’s settlement at Trzcinica was occupied by a community belonging to the Otomani-Füzesabony Culture, a great Early Bronze Age civilisation. It is possible that they have taken over the hillfort and peacefully assimilated the previous occupants. Consequently, the Otomani people built the road, the entrance gate and redeveloped the fences. The hillfort was then restored after the fire with an additional palisade, a moat from the side with easier access. Overall the Otomani hillfort was expanded to almost 2 hectares and comprised of the main court and an external ward. This was the time of the influence of the great civilisations of the Mediterranean basin, as well as the Trzciniec culture from the north, which made this place a significant prehistoric culture-forming centre. Traces of human presence in Trzcinica dated back to the times of the Roman influence have been discovered during the latest excavations in the area as well.
In the early Middle Ages, in the years 780-1031 A.D. the hillfort was a centre of local power, and the multipartite hillfort encompassed the area of over 3 hectares, surrounded by 1250m of ramparts. During the times of our ancestors, the defensive structures of the hillfort in Trzcinica were considered to be top engineering level.
During the interdisciplinary research conducted in Trzcinica in the years 1991-1998 and 2005-2009, over 200,000 archaeological artefacts were discovered and the whole area was thoroughly examined with regards to the defensive structures. Large quantities of pottery items and other ceramic vessels were discovered on-site, as well as items made of bone, horn, stone, and flint. The finds included unique artefacts made of bronze and iron, cult items, ancient culture objects, tools, weapons and ornaments. Proofs of long-distance connections of the cultures inhabiting the hillfort were discovered, together with the vast amount of data regarding the chronology of the local settlements, the economy and the natural environment. Based on those discoveries, an idea has been developed in 1998 to create here an archaeological open-air museum.
The research on the “Royal Earthworks” continued in the later years (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2019). One of the most surprising discoveries was the remains of a dwelling house, connected most likely with bronze-casting activity. The numerous artefacts found nearby included a knobbed amphora, burnt emmer wheat and millet grains, and acorns. The abundance and wealth of goods in the house prove the high status of the bronze-caster in the hillfort’s hierarchy. One of the most precious discoveries appeared to be the medieval silver hoard of treasure found within the hillfort, which included coins, ornaments, pieces of silver and the unique silver sword scabbard.
In 2015 the Subcarpathian Museum in Krosno received golden bracelets discovered during fieldwork in Dębowiec (Jasło district). These were artefacts most likely from the Carpathian Basin, dating back to the Bronze Age when the area was inhabited by the communities of trans-Carpathian origin. The bracelets are exhibited in the open-air museum.
In 2016 a hoard of treasure was handed into the open-air museum in Trznicica comprising of four bronze swords, dating back to 1200-1500 B.C. The swords were discovered by chance in the Nowy Żmigród area by Michał Marek and Jakub Marchewka. After the conservation procedures, the swords have been made available to the public and are currently on display in the main hall of the open-air museum.
History of research
16.12.2020
HISTORY OF RESEARCH
For centuries this legendary place has been known as the “Royal Earthworks”. Situated on a steep promontory over the flat bottom of the Ropa Valley (latitude 49º44’00’’; longitude 21º25’53’’) and with a gradient of 20-40º on its precipitous slopes, the elevation and hillfort at its crest rise over 30 m above the lowland surrounding it on three sides. This is one of the principal archaeological sites in Poland and has been entered into the national register of historic monuments. This is a site of paramount importance historically and culturally. Its natural barriers to easy access protected it against destruction. The defensive settlements which Gancarski and his team discovered here are the oldest found hitherto in Poland, with the earliest signs of the influence of the Anatolian-Balkan Civilisation. The site is also the location of one of the oldest and best-preserved Slavonic hillforts (770 - 1031 AD), stretching over an area of nearly 3.5 hectares. There are surviving defensive earthworks around it which still rise to an impressive height of up to 10 m.
In the early 19th century 3 effigies of pagan gods were discovered here. By the 19th century, the place had claimed the attention of scholars of antiquities, and in the 20th century, numerous archaeological excavations were conducted here. The first fully professional research project was carried out in 1957, by the Carpathian Archaeological Expedition led by Andrzej Żaki. Further excavations were conducted in 1958 and 1962 by the archaeologist A. Kunysz, who confirmed the presence of an Early Mediaeval hillfort and discovered artefacts dated to other, prehistoric periods. Later M. Parczewski identified some of the ceramic finds as belonging to the Mierzanowice Culture. But it was not until the turn of the century that a series of sensational discoveries were made which brought Trzcinica its fame, in research accomplished in 1991-1998 and 2005-2009 under the leadership of Jan Gancarski, who confirmed the presence of artefacts belonging to the Otomani-Füzesabony Culture. Gancarski’s interdisciplinary projects covering an area of over 20 ares.
People erected a defensive settlement here at the beginning of the Bronze Age. It was defended by a wooden rampart with a palisade, a ditch and the steepness of the slopes itself. The hillfort was inhabited by the peoples of the Pleszów group, Mierzanowice culture (2100-1650 BC) who were under strong Transcarpathian cultural influences. The heavily fortified settlement of the Pleszów group encompassed the area of 60 ares and was flanked by earthwork (with walls made of wood and filled with soil) on the south and west. The remaining sides were defended by very steep slopes and a palisade. The entrance gate was situated from the western upland. The Pleszów Group’s settlement at Trzcinica was occupied by a community belonging to the Otomani-Füzesabony Culture, a great Early Bronze Age civilisation. It is possible that they have taken over the hillfort and peacefully assimilated the previous occupants. Consequently, the Otomani people built the road, the entrance gate and redeveloped the fences. The hillfort was then restored after the fire with an additional palisade, a moat from the side with easier access. Overall the Otomani hillfort was expanded to almost 2 hectares and comprised of the main court and an external ward. This was the time of the influence of the great civilisations of the Mediterranean basin, as well as the Trzciniec culture from the north, which made this place a significant prehistoric culture-forming centre. Traces of human presence in Trzcinica dated back to the times of the Roman influence have been discovered during the latest excavations in the area as well.
In the early Middle Ages, in the years 780-1031 A.D. the hillfort was a centre of local power, and the multipartite hillfort encompassed the area of over 3 hectares, surrounded by 1250m of ramparts. During the times of our ancestors, the defensive structures of the hillfort in Trzcinica were considered to be top engineering level.
During the interdisciplinary research conducted in Trzcinica in the years 1991-1998 and 2005-2009, over 200,000 archaeological artefacts were discovered and the whole area was thoroughly examined with regards to the defensive structures. Large quantities of pottery items and other ceramic vessels were discovered on-site, as well as items made of bone, horn, stone, and flint. The finds included unique artefacts made of bronze and iron, cult items, ancient culture objects, tools, weapons and ornaments. Proofs of long-distance connections of the cultures inhabiting the hillfort were discovered, together with the vast amount of data regarding the chronology of the local settlements, the economy and the natural environment. Based on those discoveries, an idea has been developed in 1998 to create here an archaeological open-air museum.
The research on the “Royal Earthworks” continued in the later years (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2019). One of the most surprising discoveries was the remains of a dwelling house, connected most likely with bronze-casting activity. The numerous artefacts found nearby included a knobbed amphora, burnt emmer wheat and millet grains, and acorns. The abundance and wealth of goods in the house prove the high status of the bronze-caster in the hillfort’s hierarchy. One of the most precious discoveries appeared to be the medieval silver hoard of treasure found within the hillfort, which included coins, ornaments, pieces of silver and the unique silver sword scabbard.
In 2015 the Subcarpathian Museum in Krosno received golden bracelets discovered during fieldwork in Dębowiec (Jasło district). These were artefacts most likely from the Carpathian Basin, dating back to the Bronze Age when the area was inhabited by the communities of trans-Carpathian origin. The bracelets are exhibited in the open-air museum.
In 2016 a hoard of treasure was handed into the open-air museum in Trznicica comprising of four bronze swords, dating back to 1200-1500 B.C. The swords were discovered by chance in the Nowy Żmigród area by Michał Marek and Jakub Marchewka. After the conservation procedures, the swords have been made available to the public and are currently on display in the main hall of the open-air museum.
