LIST OF SPONSORS

Milan Mladek Crepe Weavers Newtonards

Mr. G.Thompson Duncrue Industrial Estate Belfas t

Mr. J.C. Nolan The Ulster Museum Belfast

Dr. P.F. Wa l lace National Museum of Irelan Dublin

Mr. J.G . Kel ly Li t han Ltd . Belfast

Published by t he I n s titute of Arc haeol ogy o f the Czechoslovak Academy of Sc iences LetenskA 4, 11000 Praha 1

C 1991

Institute of Archaeology, Prague ISBN - 80-901026-1-1

E. Neustupny: Preface
I. Surveys and abstracts of theoretical studies I. Pavlu: Problems of Early Prehistory in Bohemia (The present state of research) .. .................................. '. . .. . .. . ... .. .... . . . .. . . .

11 16 27 35 44 56
64
68

A." Rybova, P. Drda and K. Motykova: The contribution of present research to the Proto-Historic period in Bohemia and its future prospects . . .....
J. Bubenik: The archaeology of the early Middle Ages (6th-12th centuries)

On the present state of early Medieval archaeology in Bohemia .............. M. Beranova, Z. Vana and Z. Krumphanzlova: Bohemia in the 6th-12th centuries M . Richter and Z. Smetanka: Medieval archaeology, 1986-1990 (Traditions and perspecti ve ................................................................
K. Motykova, P. Drda and A. Rybova: Some notable imports from the end of the Roman period ...........................................................

J. Klapste: Bedfichuv-Svetec and early feudal residences in NW Bohemia ...... ....

T. Durdik: Feudal residences in Bohemia.........................................

II. Large scale excavations in Bohemia
J. Benes: ANeolIthic settlement site at Hrdlovka-Liptice (Excavations of

1987-1990) . ............................................................. E. Pleslova-Stikova: Makotrasy (central Bohemia). ATRB settlement with two enclosures ......................................................... M. Zapotocky and M. Zapotocka: Kutna Hora - Danemark. Ahillfort of the Middle Eneolithic Rivnac culture in the E part of Central Bohemia ......... .

75 80

87 P. Brichacek: Hosty (district of ceske-Budejovice) - an enclosed settlement of the Early Bronze Age....................................................
J. Hrala, Z. Sedlacek and M. Vavra: The Bronze Age hilltop site at SkalkaVelim (Excavations of 1984-1989) ...........................................

92 93 105 110 115

M. Chytracek: Ahillfort of the Late Hallstatt and Early La Tene periods on the Cerny-vrch (Black Hill) by Svrzno, district of Domazlice ............... N. Venclova: ACeltic enclosure and temple at MSecke-Zehrovice ................. K. Motykova, P. Drda and A. Rybova: The state of studies of the settlement pattern of the oppidum at Zavist and their evaluation ....................

a settlement of the Late Roman period ... . ........ ................... I. Pleinerova: Acemetery of the Late Romano-Barbarian period at Opocno near Louny, NW Bohemia ... .. .... . . .......... .... .. .......... .......... M. Gojda: Early Medieval settlements at Roztoky: the 1986-1989 excavations. ..... J. Justova: The bailey of the ducal residence at Libice-nad-Cidlinou and its hinterland .................................. .. ............................. J. Frolik: The most recent excavations and discoveries at Prague Castle ... ...... B. Nechvatal: Studies on the ducal and royal centre at Vysehrad ........ ..... .... T. Durdik: The castle of Kfivoklat in the light of archaeological excavations ... III. Regional and enviromental projects P. Bfichacek: Rescue activities of the Plzen branch office of the Institute of Archaeology in the period 1986-1989 ...... .. ...... .. ............ ......... Z. Smrz: Results of the study of settlement patterns in the micro-region of Luzicky-potok (Luzice creek) in NW Bohemia . . ............ ......... .. .... .... J. Benes: The Lomsky-potok project: investigations of prehistoric settlement of a micro-region with large-scale soil transfers ................. ...... ... P. Meduna: On the early medieval settlement structure of NW Bohemia: investigation of the drainagearea of the Lornsky- and Loucensky-potok ...... . ....... IV. Other important rescue and testing excavations S. Vencl: The rescue excavation of a Gravettian site at stadice, district of Usti-nad-Labem .... ,........... ..... . ... .......... .......... . ............... R. Sumberova: Neolithic settlement site at Chotebudice, district of Louny (Excavations of 1988-1990) ... ...... .. .... .... .... .... ...................... D. Koutecky: ACordedware culture cemetery at Usti-nad-Labem - Trmice .......... J. Stauberova, B. Stauber and Zdenek Smrz: Bfezno - rescue excavations of a Bronze Age enclosed settlement .... . ...... . ............. ........... D. Koutecky: ALusatian settlement site at Stadice, district of Usti-nadLabem ............................................................ ,..........

126 130 135 140 146 149 159

167 170 178 185

191 194 196 198 202 203 206 210

v. Ctverak: Studies of prehistoric settlement at a sand-quarry for highway

building at Tfebestovice, district of Nymburk (central Bohemia) .. ..... V. Vokolek: Acemetery of the Silesia-Platenice culture at Kostelec-nadOrlici ......... ,....................................... . ...... ... . . ..... ... P. Holodnak: Rescue excavations at Sobesuky, in 1985-1990 .. ... ...

Z. Smrz: Drouzkovice - an enclosed area of the early

La

Tene period .........

218 221 225

228

J. Valentova: Aceltic inhumation cemetery at Kutna-Hora - Karlov ........

V. Salac:

La

Tene period production and distribution centre at Lovosice ....

La

H. Sedlackova:

Tene period sunken-floored houses at Ktinec, district 233 237 240

of Nymburk ........ . ............................... ,................. . ......

J. Bubenik: Rubin Hill and its significance for early Medieval settlement ....

T. Velimskj: Results of studies on a deserted municipal foundation of high Middle Ages at necin ........................................... T. Velimsky: On the problems of the 13th-century municipality at Kynsperknad-Ohi'i .............................................. V. Some interdisciplinary projects P. Drda and A. Majer: surveying of the Celtic oppidum of Mont Beuvray, France .. R. Pleiner: Study of the early production of iron in Czechoslovakia 1985-1989 ... I. Pleinerova: An experimental station at Brezno near Louny (NW Bohemia) ..... E. Cerna: New evidence for glass production in Bohemia during the high Middle
Ages ......
I I , I I

246 252 256

260

List of authors ...............................................

265

(Excavations of 1987-1990) Jaromir Benes

The Neolithic site of Hrdlovka-Liptice is situated in the Podkrusnohorska panev (Piedmont Krusne hory basin) in NW Bohemia not far from t he piedmont area of the border mountains. The basin has here a typical character, being divided into shallow valleys the axes of which are constituted by small and short watercourses. Our site is situated close to one of these, the Loucensky potok. The site is currently being obliterated at a significant rate by lignite mining. The study of the Neolithic area is closely connected to the LomskY-potok project (cf. Benes in this volume), the aim of which is primarily to expand our knowledge of developed settlement structures. The Neolithic settlement itself is located on a slightly elevated platform between the Loucensky potok and an unnamed watercourse. Archaeological work started here in the spring of' 1987 when Neolithic sherds were collected on areas Vand SJ (cf. Fig. 1), off which arable soil was being stripped by a bulldozer. The findspot was subsequently opened in a series of trenches sunk according to our judgment. Generally the soundings cleaned some 10 cm of the arable subsoil and exposed the colourcontrasting structures of post-holes and sunk features. Unfortunately, our intentions have frequently been marred by the devastating scale of the operations of the m ining agency. The site is presently divided into several sections marked as area V (East), SJ (Nord-South), Band Z (West ). During the excavation, Area V was covered only by a sub-arable layer of soil 10-15 cm thick which could be cleared by a mechanical excavator equipped w ith a wide- mouthed bucket with straight cutting edge. At first, we sunk four trenches at intervals of 50 m. These trenches 150-200 m long, exposed the ground-plans of 19 Neolithic buildings out of w hich only one was completely uncovered (plan No.9). Some of the remaining 18 plans are datable from pottery found in building pits, parts of which we were able to excavate in the trenches. In Area V , we also intended to define the E border of the site and succeeded in doing so. Area V vanished first, having been entirely mined away in 1988. To make things even more complicated, a sand-mining pit was subsequently opened here. The key Area SJ was mechanically cleared as a whole, and until its obliteration at the end of the summer of 1989 w e managed to keep its destruction under control, while investigations were ongoing. We attempted to explore this area in as much detail as possible, and over two years, our efforts were rewarded with 16 m ore or less complete ground plans. This area was prominent because of the exceptional visibility of building details in the yellow, T ert iary-period loam subsoil . Area B was situated in the S part of the segment investigated. In 1989, it was rapidly uncovered by means of a bulldozer which enabled us to determine the points at w hich the Neolithic houses once stood, but only occasionally permitted their detailed excavation and recording. Our experience indicates, however, that w e have managed to record with reasonable accuracy at least the density of buildings,here. Investigations of Area Z brought its first evidence forth as late as 1990. Five trenches 100-180 mlong and 2,5-3 mwide were sunk here. Where time and available equipment permitted, we expanded these at som e points in order to investigate some plans entirely. We succeeded, in this, for example, in the case of the Stroked-pot tery culture plan No.44 where samples for phosphate analysis were taken by the author and A.Majer in order to determine the functions of areas of the interior of the building. T he trenches in Area Z were oriented so as to cut perpendicularly the north-aligned plans of long houses. In a number of instances , materials retrieved from features situated along the house plans will perm it their relative chronological dating. We chose intervals of 25 m between the individual trenches in order to record the maximum number of house plans. Evidence other than that of the Linear-pottery and Stroked-pottery cultures obtained at Hrdlovka-L iptice must also be mentioned. In the 1990 campaign, a settlement of the Jordan6w-Michelsberg chronological horizon was sampled in Area Z. Traces of a G lobular-Amphorae culture settlement were recorded in this area and a group of C ordedware culture graves w ere investigated. We have good evidence for the Early Bronze Age , in the form of a group of Unetice-culture graves investigated in Area B, and also some clusters of sunken settlement features . Feature 1465 which was obviously funerary in nature yielded the totally unique find of 45 pottery loomweights.

75,

settlement sites (excavations directed by P.Meduna). By October 1990, the overall extent of the area investigated was: 25410 square metres (i.e. 2,4 hectares: trenches in Areas V and Z, operations in Areas SJ and Z) which has been explored by purel mechanical means, almost as efficient as manual work. Furthermore, the size of the area uncovered by mean of bulldozing and investigated subsequently amounts to c.7 ha (Area B and minor undertakings in Area V The total number of features, recorded including post-holes, is 2030. Plans of Neolithic buildings

The site of Hrdlovka is remarkable from several viewpoints, not least from the presence of ground plans o structures of the Late Neolithic (in Czechoslovak terms), Stroked-pottery culture. Together with the sit at Mseno (Licka 1989), Hrdlovka thus becomes a key data base for the whole of Bohemia for this period.
i - - - - - - - - - - - _______ ,
\
\

SJ

\
\ \
\

\
\

\
\ \

22

1>
\ \ \
\

I
I

,
I

---J

018

o
c....:;,;,;,;, ............

100m
""'=nI

Fig. 1. The Neolithic site of Hrdlovka-Liptice. The extent of investigated areas and soundings 1987-1990. Key: a'- Area Z, investigated 'at present, as in October 1990: b - areas uncovered by bulldozing c - areas and soundings where the arable subsoil has been removed by a mechanical excavato d - Linear-pottery culture houses; e - Stroked-pottery culture houses: f - house with a boat-shaped plan the Lengyel cultural phase. Drawn by L. Jarosova.
76

@
@

r;.
'i l,l,

iI

1/ CO l

." "

r
' , ', ."

,
, e'

' .'

,_ , J

"
'j!,

e@
" "
I

i(
o" "
o('J

.,

...

" " I,
o.
D.

.
0:;

, ,

!(f>
..

.,

'

':
Q

... : _.
..

"

..
e
II

,.
e

-,

til,

...
0

"

t)

... 0
0

"

o.

0"

. e . ., .

..

o
10m

...,

............., ...............

.. &"-..

e
e

..

...
It
--

e
lit

....,.._.... .,.. .. . . .
e

I.

e
3

, .. .
,

I I,

..
' 0

..,"

.. . . .

'..

o
,;

. . ...

.
2

"

"... .......... . . .. . . -.. . .

Fig. 2. Hrdlovka-Liptice. Selected plans of Neolithic long houses from the site. Plan No. 9 belongs to the earlier Linear-pottery culture, plan No.3 to the Sarka stage (i.e. terminal Linear pottery), plan No.2 to the earlier Stroked-pottery culture, plan No. 8 to the later Stroked-pottery culture. Drawn by L. Jarosova. To date, 71 plans of Neolithic long houses have been recorded here. Of these, some 25 have been investigated completely or almost completely. Even as excavation proceeded, it was possible to identify seven of these as belonging to the Linear-pottery tradition and nine as belonging to the Stroked-pottery tradition. The dating of the remaining plans will be the subject of further analyses. Most plans have, in fact, been recorded in trenches and their dating is likely to be approximative. Here I wish to mention four interesting plans (Fig.2). Of the earlier Linear-pottery culture period, I refer to the plan No.9. The classical five-row structure is marked by a row of three larger and more deeply set posts making up one of the transversal walls somewhat S of the building centre. The building had a conventional oblong disposition 23 m long and 7 m wide. Its Nterminus was represented by a lining trench. Plan of the building No.3 was unique in all directions/ especially in view of its dimensions. This was 49 m long, the Nwall being 8 mand the S 9 mwide. It is thus one of the largest plans of kind in Central Europe. The dating is far from certain but it seems that it may belong to the Sarka stage (=terminal Linear pottery). The other two plans which I mention here belong to the full fledged Stroked-pottery culture. In both cases, the dating is quite safe thanks to pottery finds. Plan No.2
77

doubling of perimeter posts ). Building No .8 carries a high measure of interest. The N lining trench is set in a slightly asymmetrical fashion . within the N third of the E row of posts, one of the post-holes has been enclosed by a hoard of fragments of som e 35 grinding stones. Most of the building details of Neolithic house plans are fairly well legible. In a number of instances, we could determine shadows of sunk pits, exact positions of posts or even shapes of timbers or boards set into the soil . Artifacts and biological remdins Most of the Neolithic features are post-holes which define the building plans. The range of remaining sunken features is of standard character, following the norms for the Linear-pottery cultural sphere in Central Europe. In addition to building pits, clay-mining sites, trenches and other types of sunk features occur. M ost of their fillings are either unstratified, or else their stratification is not visible. An overwhelming majority of artifacts and biological remains come from sunk features. The key artifact group is without doubt the pottery. Its importance is decisive in determining the relative chronology of the site. We know at present that the site must have been settled throughout the Neolithic period. How far this implies continuous settlement of the same spot will emerge only in the light of further research campaigns. I wish to point out here that the range of pottery includes a number of types and decorative techniques, that the quality of the pottery is high and its frequency. In addition to pottery, the Hrdlovka site has yielded numerous groups of stone artifacts displaying wide diversity, of which Coarse stone products merit special attention. We have retrieved a considerable quantity of crushing stones, grinding stones, pestles and whetstones. The local collection of ground and polished stonework, especially in its quantity and quality, fully accords with the standard of Central European Linear-pottery culture settlements. We have one hoard find of ground stonework consisting of several items in various stages of finish and datable to the period of the Stroked-pottery culture. Aconsiderable quantity of chipped stonework has been found on the site. study of the composition of raw-materia l types used in for the production of the chipped stonework offers attractive prospects. In addition to imported grey Baltic flint , it will be necessary to take the local quartzite into consideration. varieties in frequencies of type-representation in combination with both functional and morphological features may indicate differing levels of the control of the local resources. The particular significance of the study of chipped stone industries is enhanced by studies of the newly identified specialist craft settlements (Vencl 1989) in the vicinity of quartzite outcrops. The range of raw materials from Hrdlovka is rather varied (in addition to flint, it includes Tusimice-, Becov- and Skrsin-type quartzites). In terms of inMuidual tool groups, the H rdlovka finds do not differ from what is usual in the Linear-pottery cultural sphere. . We have also managed to retrieve a small group of animal bones of average quality. The occurrence of any bones from the Stroked-pottery culture period, especially when associated with a site with building plans, is especially important. It provides a unique opportunity to compare animal bones from Linear and Stroked-pottery contexts of a single site. Another biological remains present are pieces of charcoal fragments or remains of wood. Some was found in several post-holes which, by a stroke of luck, were often components of well-dated plans, especially those of the Stroked-pottery culture . A large silo, No.765, contained a substantial quantity of material among which Mrs.V.Culikova identified carbonized grains of ember wheat. opportunities for study of major settlement units The study of the Hrdlovka site is an integral part of the wider research programme of Lomsky-potok (cf.J.Benes, in this volume). within this terrHory of the Lomsky- and Loucensky-potok drainage areas, we know of 6-8 Neolithic sites closely associated with the main creeks. No Neolithic sites are to be found the tributati.es and minor watercourses (Linear or Stroked-pottery cultures). Individual sites are spaced 1250-2500 m apart in the direction of the water flow, the distance between sites belonging to drainage areas of neighbouring creeks being determined by geomorphology. The extent of these Neolithic sites is considerable - c. 15 ha . It seems that w ithin territory of the project, we have not recorded (and probably will not record) any settlement cluster of the same extent as Bylany 1 or Bylany 4 (Pavlu-Zapotocka 1983). On the contrary, the sites occurring in our type of landscape are likely to be all of the same size. We have at present several interpretative options for their evaluation which will have to be tested in the course of future research. I will refer only to two: 1) Every site of the Lomsky-potok project (that is, including Hrdlovka-Liptice) will present
78

conclusions about ancient mobility within individual settlement areas. 2) In model sites (for us only the sites at Hrdlovka and Libkovice meet these criteria), a complete development sequence of the Linear- and stroked-pottery cultures will be recorded. This could show in the analysis by a continuous chronology of materials in which no important phase will be missing. Every such site would thus indicate continuous settlement of a spatial segment. In terms of timet if we assume the existence of ninety long houses and count with the maximum estimate of the life-spans of these structures, an interpretation that the site represents the remains of one or two contemporary homesteads will not seem so very surprising. The Hrdlovka-Liptice site represents a basic reference point and model for the study of major settlement structures. In addition, it makes a contribution to studies of the Neolithic in itself, as it constitutes the most extensively investigated site in NW Bohemia.
References

Licka, M. 1989: Grundrisse von Doppelhausern (?) aus der stichbandkeramik, In: Bylany. Seminar 1987 (ed.J.Rulf), Praha, 227-231. Pavlu, I.- Zapotocka, M. 19B3: Bylany. Katalog: sekce A, dil I. Vyzkum 1953-1967 (Bylany. Acatalogue: section A, Part I. Excavation 1953-1967/ in Czech). Praha. Vencl, S. 1989: Neolithic quartzite processing site at Zichov, distr. of Teplice, In: Bylany. Seminar 19B7 (ed.J.Rulf). Praha, 131-133.

79