Obraz pełen luk. Grodzisko w Rozprzy po ponad półwieczu badań archeologicznych

Abstract

The remains of a medieval fortified site in Rozprza, initially identified as a motte-type wooden castle, attracted archaeologists for about a century. However, it was not until 1963–1966 that it was excavated by a team of researchers from the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography in Łódź led by Aldona Chmielowska. In 2013–2016, new research was conducted by Piotr Kittel and Jerzy Sikora from the University of Łódź. With the help of new excavation, recording, and analysis techniques, they were able to verify older findings on the chronology and stratigraphy of the site. According to this research, the construction of the fortress was preceded by the existence of an open settlement, which, among other features, left the layer of fertile anthroposoil – the so-called “dark earth” - dated to the 10th and the beginning of the 11th century. The earliest fortification – the ring-fort – was probably built here shortly before 1050 and exist in the 12th century and was reoccupied in the second half of the 13th century. Dendrochronological analysis shows that in the 1330s a new structure was erected on the site of the former stronghold. It was a typical motte-and-bailey timber castle, used as a family seat by the noble family of Nagodzice-Jelitczycy. It was rebuilt in the 15th century, when another moat was also added, and existed at least until the end of that century. In the 16th century, both palaeoecological research and written sources indicate that the area of the former fortress was used as a meadow.