GORD: A MEDIEVAL SLAVIC FORTIFIED SETTLEMENT

1. DEFINITION
: A gord is a medieval Slavic fortified settlement, also occasionally known as a burgwall or
Slavic burgwall after the German name for these sites. (in Proto-Indo-European/Proto-Slavic
it means to fence off, or fenced area)
: A burgwall during the: (1) Bronze and Iron Age (hillforts)
(2) Middles Ages (Gord)
2. The inhabitants (Slavs)
2.1 The origin: from the ANTES and SCLAVENI people, both called SPOROI
- they were barbarians
- monotheistic type of religion (god Perun, maker of lightning, to whom they sacrifice)
- explains why Slavs preferred it most to build gords on hilltops, high ground
- they have a democratic-type of government
- Antes: politically and ethnic diversity
- Sclaveni: similar to Antes but more militaristic
2.2 Gegraphical origins:
2.2.1 Eurasia Sarmatian, Hun and Gothic Empires
2.2.2 movement of Germans started the great migration of Slavs
3. Early form of Slavic communities (Middle Ages)
3.1 State organizations: headed by a prince w/ a treasury and defence force

3.2 They pledge allegiance to either:

3.2.1 Roman Emperors
3.2.2 Byzantine Emperors
4. Early form of Slavic culture in a gord (adapted from Proto-Indo-European groups)
4.1 Technologies and Livelihood:

pastoralism, including domesticated cattle, horses, and dogs

agriculture and cereal cultivation, including technology commonly ascribed to late-Neolithic

farming communities, e.g., the plow

a climate with winter snow

transportation by or across water

the solid wheel,[2] used for wagons, but not yet chariots with spoked wheels

worship of a sky god, *dyeus ph2tr (lit. "sky father"; > Ancient Greek () / Zeus
(patr); *dieu-ph2tr > Latin Jupiter; Illyrian Deipaturos)

oral heroic poetry or song lyrics that used stock phrases such as imperishable fame

a patrilineal kinship-system based on relationships between men

4.2 Subdivision of Slavs

Slavs are customarily divided along geographical lines into three major subgroups: West
Slavs, East Slavs, and South Slavs, each with a different and a diverse background based on
unique history, religion and culture of particular Slavic groups within them. Apart from
prehistorical archaeological cultures, the subgroups have had notable cultural contact with nonSlavic Bronze- and Iron Age civilisations.

The West Slavs have origin in early Slavic tribes which settled in Central Europe after East
Germanic tribes had left this area during the migration period.[44] They are noted as having mixed
with Germanics and Balts.[45] The West Slavs came under the influence of the Western Roman
Empire (Latin) and of the Roman Catholic Church.

The East Slavs have origins in early Slavic tribes who mixed with Finno-Ugric peoples and
Balts.[46][47] Their early Slavic component, Antes, mixed or absorbed Iranians, and later received
influence from the Khazars and Vikings.[48] The East Slavs trace their national origins to the tribal
unions of Kievan Rus', beginning in the 10th century. They came particularly under the influence
of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) and of the Eastern Orthodox Church; Eastern
Catholic Churches later became established in the 16th century in areas such as Ukraine.

The South Slavs (except the Slovenes and Croats) have origins in early Slavic tribes who
mixed with the local Proto-Balkanic tribes
(Illyrian, Dacian, Thracian, Pannonian,Paeonian and Hellenic tribes), Celtic tribes (most notably
the Scordisci), as well as with Romans (and the Romanized remnants of the former groups), and
also with remnants of temporarily settled invading East Germanic, Asiatic or Caucasian tribes
such as Gepids, Huns, Avars and Bulgars.[citation needed] The Slovenes and the Croats have origins in
early Slavic tribes who mixed with Romans and romanized Celtic and Illyrian people as well as
with Avars and Germanic peoples (Lombards and East Goths). The South Slavs (except the
Slovenes and Croats) came under the cultural sphere of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine
Empire), of the Ottoman Empire and of the Eastern Orthodox Church and Islam, while the
Slovenes and the Croats were influenced by Western Roman Empire (Latin), Holy Roman
Empire and, thus by the Roman Catholic Church.

5. Physical attributes:
Beyond the simple definition of hill fort, there is a wide variation in types and periods from the
Bronze Age to the Middle Ages. Here are some considerations of general appearance and topology,
which can be assessed without archaeological excavation:
5.1 Common features of a gord:
5.1.1 Palisade
5.1.2 Moat
5.1.3 Higher inner ground
5.1.4 Ring-bounded: circle, semicircle, or horseshoe
5.1.5 Could be surrounded by houses or other bldgs. due to expansion

Location

Hilltop Contour: the classic hill fort; an inland location with a hilltop defensive
position surrounded by artificial ramparts or steep natural slopes. Examples: Brent
Knoll,Mount Ipf.

Inland Promontory: an inland defensive position on a ridge or spur with steep

slopes on 2 or 3 sides, and artificial ramparts on the level approaches. Example: Lambert's
Castle.

Interfluvial: a promontory above the confluence of two rivers, or in the bend of

a meander. Examples: Kelheim, Miholjanec.

Lowland: an inland location without special defensive advantages (except perhaps

marshes), but surrounded by artificial ramparts; typical of later settled oppida.
Examples: Maiden Castle, Old Oswestry, Stonea Camp.

Sea Cliff: a semi-circular crescent of ramparts backing on to a straight sea cliff;

common on rocky Atlantic coasts, such as Ireland. Examples: Daw's Castle, Dinas
Dinlle,Dn Aengus.

Sea Promontory: a linear earthwork across a narrow neck of land leading to a

peninsula with steep cliffs to the sea on three sides; common on indented Atlantic coasts,
such as Ireland, Cornwall, Brittany and west Wales. Examples: Huelgoat; The Rumps and
other promontory forts of Cornwall.

Sloping Enclosure or Hill-slope enclosure: smaller earthwork on gently sloping

hillsides; not significant defensive position. Examples: Goosehill Camp, Plainsfield
Camp,Trendle Ring.

Area

> 20 ha: very large enclosures, too diffuse to defend, probably used for domesticated
animals. Example: Bindon Hill.

120 ha: defended areas large enough to support permanent tribal settlement.
Example: Scratchbury Camp

< 1 ha: small enclosures, more likely to be individual farmsteads or animal pens.
Example: Trendle Ring.

Ramparts, walls and ditches

Univallate: a single circuit of ramparts for enclosure and defence. Example: Solsbury
Hill.

Bivallate : a double circuit of defensive earthworks. Example: Battlesbury Camp.

Multivallate: more than one layer of defensive earthworks, outer works might not be
complete circuits, but defend the weakest approaches; typically the inner circuit is original,
with outer circuits added later. Example: Cadbury Castle.

Entrances

Simple opening: might indicate an enclosure, rather than a defended position;

sometimes the main ramparts may turn inward or outward, and be widened and heightened
to control the entrance. Example: Dowsborough.

Linear holloway: straight parallel pair of ramparts dominating the entrance;

projecting either inward, outward, or occasionally overlapped along the main rampart.
Example: Norton Camp.

Complex: multiple overlapping outer works; staggered or interleaved multivallate

ramparts; zig-zag entrance way, sling platforms and well planned lines of fire.
Example:Maiden Castle.

Some forts were also settlements, while others were only occupied seasonally, or in times of strife.
Archaeological excavation reveals more about the dates of occupation and modes of use. Typical
features for excavation include:

Ramparts and ditches

Original depths and profiles of ditches.

Rampart construction: murus gallicus, pfostenschlitzmauer.

Guardhouses and defended entrances.

Settlement and occupation

Raised platforms, roundhouses, longhouses.

Post holes for rectangular granary huts.

Pits for food storage, souterrains, fogous.

Pottery

Coins, jewellery and hoards.

Temples and peacetime burials

Platforms and temple foundations.

Graves and offerings

Warfare

Weapons: sling-shot, shields, armour, swords, axes, spears, arrows.

Sieges and conquest: ballista bolts, ash layers, vitrified stones, burnt post holes.

Wartime burials: typically outside the ramparts:

Contemporary individual burials by local inhabitants.

Massed grave pits dug by a conquering army.