https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/issue/feed 2026-07-03T16:55:20+02:00 Archeologica historica archaeologia.historica@phil.muni.cz Open Journal Systems https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/article/view/44635 2026-07-03T16:55:14+02:00 Ivana Boháčová email@journals.phil.muni.cz Ivana Hrušková email@journals.phil.muni.cz

Rescue archaeological research in the historic center of Stará Boleslav revealed a significant transformation of the settlement's topography in connection with a change in the function of this centre in the mid-11th century. At that time, following the establishment of the oldest collegiate chapter in Bohemia, one of the most important and strategically significant political and economic centres of the Přemyslid dynasty became, above all, a primary religious centre. This change in function was reflected not only in the relocation of residential structures from the central area of the former castle's core to other parts of it, in the construction of several sacred buildings, including a monumental three-nave basilica, and in the onset of intensive burials in their vicinity, but also in the establishment of the routes of the main thoroughfare and the wider open space, and the reinforcement of their surfaces with various types of stone gravel or — in very rare cases — directly with paving stones. This paper is devoted both to the diversity of surface reinforcement methods and road construction techniques, as well as to the functions and topography of the road system at this early medieval site.

2026-06-30T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright © https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/article/view/44636 2026-07-03T16:55:14+02:00 Kateřina Levá email@journals.phil.muni.cz Ivana Boháčová email@journals.phil.muni.cz Michal Štaffl email@journals.phil.muni.cz

This paper examines the topography and development of features on the acropolis of the early medieval stronghold of Stará Boleslav. This central site is truly exceptional due to the outstanding preservation of its historical terrain, which is organised into distinct layers linked to specific historical dates. It provides a comprehensive overview of sunken features and the outlines of above-ground buildings identified during rescue excavations (1989–2007). The article summarizes the unprocessed results of these excavations based on a typological analysis and interpretation of the features. The interpretation of the stratigraphy and spatial arrangement of the features allows for a detailed understanding of the phases of settlement and changes in the settlement structure of the site. The article emphasises the importance of systematically processing data from rescue excavations to obtain a comprehensive picture of the settlement topography and functions of this significant Přemyslid and later religious centre.

2026-06-30T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright © https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/article/view/44637 2026-07-03T16:55:15+02:00 Ladislav Čapek email@journals.phil.muni.cz

West Bohemia was one of the regions that underwent significant urbanization after the mid-13th century, when a network of major royal towns was established within a short period of time. West Bohemia was also a transit area for long-distance trade connecting Bohemia with Bavaria, the Upper Palatinate, and Upper Franconia. It is therefore no coincidence that all royal towns were established along important long-distance transit routes: the Regensburg, Nuremberg, German, Bohemian/Bavarian and Vintíř roads and the Gold Trail. The focus of towns on transport and trade is underscored by privileges and rights related to annual markets, the collection of customs fees and tolls, and compulsory warehousing, as well as by the presence of transport infrastructure features. The routing of these roads had a significant impact on the development of urban planning. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate, based on an analysis of cartographic sources in GIS, how the course of long-distance roads could have influenced the overall topography and urban development of medieval towns both before and after their establishment.

2026-06-30T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright © https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/article/view/44638 2026-07-03T16:55:15+02:00 Jan Frolík email@journals.phil.muni.cz

The origins of Český Brod as a high medieval town remain ambiguous when based on written records. Archaeological research has identified the town's oldest structures, the sunken foundations/basements of which have been preserved. The terrain reveals evidence of two disasters (fires) and a new layout based on a modified ground plan. Public spaces were fixed with gravel paving. The appearance of the oldest city fortifications remains unclear.

2026-06-30T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright © https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/article/view/44639 2026-07-03T16:55:16+02:00 Terézia Vangľová email@journals.phil.muni.cz Klaudia Daňová email@journals.phil.muni.cz

This paper presents the results of an archaeological development-led survey conducted in the cadastral area of Šintava in the vicinity of a planned residential development (Fig. 1). As part of the research, two ditches, designated as objects 10 and 11 (Fig. 2), were partially examined. The ceramic material obtained from the backfill layers of object 10 provides an important dating element for the end of the function of the ditch. Based on a typological and chronological analysis of the ceramics, this corresponds to the 11th–13th centuries. A carbon sample from the fill above the bottom of object 10 also provided an absolute chronological classification of the disappearance of the object. The second ditch – object 11 – yielded only sporadic ceramic material, which does not allow for a reliable assessment of their mutual chronological connection or a more precise datation of the object. We interpret the ditches as a previously unknown fortification situated on a strategically exposed promontory on the left bank of the Váh River at a ford. This may indicate the existence of an older fortified settlement that preceded Šintava Castle.

2026-06-30T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright © https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/article/view/44640 2026-07-03T16:55:16+02:00 Lukáš Hlubek email@journals.phil.muni.cz Jakub Novák email@journals.phil.muni.cz David Papajík email@journals.phil.muni.cz Pavel Šlézar email@journals.phil.muni.cz

The presented study focuses on one of the least known castles in the Olomouc region – Špraněk, located in the Javoříčko Karst in the cadastral area of the village of Březina, in the "Zkamenělý zámek" (Petrified Castle) area. To date, only a massive moat and a few inconspicuous fragments of masonry have been preserved from the castle. Its foundation is most likely connected with Dětřich of Špránek prior to 1313, while its demise is usually attributed to the period of the Margrave Wars. From an archaeological perspective, the site has only been examined marginally, although in recent years several surface surveys have been conducted in the castle ruins, and a damaged lime kiln has been identified near the site of interest. The aim of this article is to summarize the newly acquired knowledge about this aristocratic residence and place it in the broader context of the development of castle sites in the Bouzov region.

2026-06-30T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright © https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/article/view/44641 2026-07-03T16:55:17+02:00 Pavel Drnovský email@journals.phil.muni.cz

This study focuses on the Božanov Castle in the Broumov region, the existence of which is not documented in written sources. Earlier archaeological research has placed the chronological framework of operations at the site between the second half of the 13th century and the beginning of the 14th century. The composition of the finds from the castle core, which are dominated by military items and objects related to the presence of horses and riders, indicates that the site had a military function and was occupied by a retinue. In 2025, a metal detector survey was performed, covering the area surrounding the castle. The presence of military items (mainly arrowheads) within the castle perimeter suggests that the castle was besieged. The distribution of the finds reveals two directions of attack. The main attack was launched from the southwest, where the attackers took advantage of the adjacent slope. The castle, which belonged to the Benedictine order with its seat in nearby Broumov, was destroyed after the year 1300. Its destruction can be linked to the uprising of the reeves of Broumov against the Benedictine lords, which took place during this period. The collected set of arrowheads exhibits lower weight values in comparison with other sets from the first half of the 15th century, which also correlates with a smaller dispersion of finds in terms of distance from the site. Both trends may be connected with the increase in the potency of crossbows between the 13th and 15th century. The situation discovered at the castle above Božanov is unique, as we currently possess no similar material evidence of castle conquests from the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries in Central Europe, including knowledge of the exact spatial relationships of military equipment, which contrasts with the state of knowledge regarding castles conquered during the 15th century.

2026-06-30T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright © https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/article/view/44642 2026-07-03T16:55:17+02:00 David Vích email@journals.phil.muni.cz Jan Kristl email@journals.phil.muni.cz

North-east of Lanšperk Castle (Ústí nad Orlicí district, Pardubice Region, Czech Republic), new archaeological finds from the high Middle Ages were discovered between 2020 and 2022 during surface surveys, including the use of a metal detector. In addition to several ceramic fragments found on the hilltop with the neo-Gothic Chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, a collection of metal objects was unearthed on a nearby steep slope using a metal detector; these were dated to the 15th century. Based on the composition and dating of the artefacts, this is evidence of wartime events from the period of the Hussite Wars, which are also documented in written sources.

2026-06-30T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright © https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/article/view/44643 2026-07-03T16:55:18+02:00 Noémi Beljak Pažinová email@journals.phil.muni.cz Ján Beljak email@journals.phil.muni.cz Radoslav Ragač email@journals.phil.muni.cz

This article examines both established and newly identified sources pertaining to research conducted at Pustý hrad (Deserted Castle) in Central Slovakia in the late 19th century. We examine archival materials (correspondence, drawings, and photographs) and compare them with contemporary research findings at the castle. Utilising the acquired information, we reconstruct the research activities conducted in 1889–1890, their locations, and the extent of the excavation efforts. In relation to their professions, we observe the profiles of the principal researchers, Lajos Leustách and Gyula Thomka, together with their research endeavours and scientific assessments. Our study provides insight into the socio-economic context of Zvolen town at the close of the 19th century, which enabled the initial scientific archaeological investigations at one of the most prominent and expansive medieval castles in contemporary Slovakia.

2026-06-30T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright © https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/article/view/44644 2026-07-03T16:55:18+02:00 Jana Mazáčková email@journals.phil.muni.cz Andrej Púčať email@journals.phil.muni.cz

This study aims to characterise a fragment of a stone mortar found at Rokštejn Castle, taking into account its formal characteristics and traces of manufacture, including the identification of the material used. Following a formal and contextual analysis of the find, the study seeks to suggest the context of its use within the castle complex. Based on a description of the archaeological context, the study compares it with similar contexts and finds. The study highlights that mortars are primarily used for crushing and grinding mixtures and pastes, and that their shape and wear reflect their daily use in the castle's kitchen operations. The results contribute to a deeper understanding of the material culture of a medieval castle settlement and the functional use of stonemasonry tools.

2026-06-30T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright © https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/article/view/44645 2026-07-03T16:55:18+02:00 Jadwiga Olbrot email@journals.phil.muni.cz

The subject of pottery production in the Kraków region between the 13th and 16th centuries is relatively well understood. This study aims to identify the locations of workshops based on archaeological evidence: buildings, kilns, sites for raw material extraction and clay storage, workshop equipment and pottery tools, and production waste. The analysis covers both examples known from the literature on the subject and unpublished data concerning the brickworks uncovered at 7 Kopernika Street. Historical, ethnographic and iconographic sources supplement this. The study enables an observation of changes in the topography (both within Kraków and beyond its walls) associated with pottery production. The analysis may also serve as a contribution to research on the topography of other medieval and early modern towns.

2026-06-30T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright © https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/article/view/44646 2026-07-03T16:55:19+02:00 Petra Šimončičová Koóšová email@journals.phil.muni.cz Veronika Brychová email@journals.phil.muni.cz

During an archaeological excavation in Hutnícka Street (2013) in Bratislava-Devín, fragments of a funnel were discovered, prompting us to reflect on the interpretation of this unique form of pottery dating from the high Middle Ages. It has been found at sites in south-western Slovakia, south Moravia and Lower Austria. In the case of the Devín finds, the combination of engraved wavy lines and carving wheel decoration is particularly interesting. We supplemented possible interpretations of the funnels' use with the results of organic residue analysis (ORA) which might enrich this topic.

2026-06-30T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright © https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/article/view/44647 2026-07-03T16:55:19+02:00 Bibiana Pomfyová email@journals.phil.muni.cz

A recently discovered charnel house in Trnava, which was situated extra muros in the Middle Ages, has been identified as the Church of St. Ulrich referred to in written sources and interpreted as part of a nearby hospital located intra muros. This article, based on an analysis of the functional and architectural types of charnel houses as well as written sources, challenges the aforementioned interpretation and presents an alternative hypothesis, whereby the Church of St. Ulrich was the mother church of the newly discovered charner house and is yet to be archaeologically uncovered.

2026-06-30T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright © https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/article/view/44648 2026-07-03T16:55:20+02:00 Fanni Budaházi email@journals.phil.muni.cz Balázs Halmos email@journals.phil.muni.cz

Geometric construction has long been a subject of interest in the study of Gothic architecture. Decagonal apse design in this period is hypothesized to have used Pythagorean triangles, while structures in general are also commonly thought to have been designed using grids. In our study we present a possible approximative method for decagon construction based on both, that might have been used as a design principle for church apses. Our aim is to approach the geometric aspects of the genesis of these structures. We analyse possible construction methods in two Gothic churches with decagonal apses, Saint Elizabeth's Cathedral in Košice and the Protestant Church of Avas in Miskolc. The most reliable sources for geometric analysis are the buildings themselves; contemporary survey methods allow the exact geometry of a building to be recorded accurately, allowing in-depth analysis. Our goal is to demonstrate a probable logic upon which decagons might have been used in Medieval architectural design.

2026-06-30T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright © https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/article/view/44652 2026-07-03T16:55:20+02:00 Radek Bláha email@journals.phil.muni.cz Petra Rokoská email@journals.phil.muni.cz 2026-06-30T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright © https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/article/view/44649 2026-07-03T16:55:20+02:00 Peter Bednár email@journals.phil.muni.cz 2026-06-30T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright © https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/article/view/44650 2026-07-03T16:55:20+02:00 Jan Klápště email@journals.phil.muni.cz 2026-06-30T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright © https://journals.phil.muni.cz/archaeologia-historica/article/view/44651 2026-07-03T16:55:20+02:00 Josef Unger email@journals.phil.muni.cz 2026-06-30T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright ©