Archaeological research at Grodno Castle in Zagórze Śląskie from 2017 to 2019

2021

4(68)

DOI: 10.37190/arc210402

Radosław Biel*, Magdalena Konczewska**, Paweł Konczewski***

Archaeological research at Grodno Castle in Zagórze Śląskie

from 2017 to 2019

Introduction

Grodno Castle (formerly Kynsburg) is located in the

town of Zagórze Śląskie (Świdnica district) in the south-

ern part of the Wałbrzyskie Mountains. The castle was

erected on the summit of Choina Mountain at an altitude

of about 450 m above sea level. From this location, there

is a pa noramic view of the Sowie (Owl) Mountains and

the Wałbrzyskie Mountains as well as its foothills. Choina

Mountain rises on the left bank of the Bystrzyca River

and its valley forms the border between the Sowie Moun-

tains and the Wałbrzyskie Mountains [1]. From the loca-

tion of the castle, visitors can see Świdnica, which is lo-

cated about 16 km to the north. During the Middle Ages,

Świdnica was the capital of the principality and the city

of residence for the Świdnica Piasts. Grodno Castle was

possibly built at the end of the 13

century on the initia-

tive of Prince Bolko I of Świdnica. Before the castle was

built, a watchtower was reported to have functioned there

to guard the trade route running from Świdnica through

the Bystrzyca valley to Bohemia [2]. However, no exten-

sive archaeological research aimed at verifying the infor-

mation provided in the literature on the subject about the

origins of Grodno Castle has ever been carried out. The

aim of this article is to present and discuss the results of

the archaeological research conducted by the authors from

2017 to 2019 that will contribute to a discussion on chron-

ological phases of the castle’s ori gins and existence.

The earliest source reporting on the functioning of the

castle came from the 14

century [3, a detailed list of

sources here]. The expansion of the building included the

largely preserved upper castle which took place during the

reign of Prince Bolko II. After the death of Duchess Ag-

nieszka (1392), the widow of Bolko II, the castle and the

entire Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor came under the rule of

the kings of Bohemia who sold it to private hands. In the

century, the castle frequently changed owners. For

ex ample, Georg von Mühlheim Puschke (Puczek) pos-

sessed the castle in the years 1429–1463

. The family of

Zettritz (Czetryc) is also mentioned among the owners of

the castle and the surrounding estates at that time. In 1463,

the stronghold was taken by the Bohemian King George

of Poděbrady possibly as a result of an armed attack. The

Zettritz family (Czetrycowie) regained the castle after

paying the king 1600 Hungarian guilders [4]. The peri-

od of the greatest prosperity and the reconstruction of the

Gothic stronghold into a Renaissance style residence took

place during the years 1545–1587 due to the Logau fami-

ly. The castle buildings began to gradually decline during

the 17

century, especially the period of the Thirty Years’

War. Destruction of the castle occurred after the occupa-

tion by the Swedes, a subsequent lack of renovations, and

disrepair caused by natural disasters. As a result, some of

the buildings of the upper castle collapsed in 1789. Then

in 1823, Gottlieb Büsching, a professor at the University

of Wrocław, as well as historian and archaeologist, spear-

headed some restoration of the castle, and it was opened

to the public. After his death in 1829, the castle became

the property of subsequent heirs and gradually expanded.

The authors would like to thank Agnieszka Gryglewska, Ph.D,

Prof. Eng. Arch., who prepared a calendar of the history of Grodno

Castle for the needs of this issue of “Architectus”.

* ORCID: 0000-0002-1505-1279. Institute of Environmental

Biology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences,

e-mail: biel.radoslaw@upwr.edu.pl

** ORCID: 0000-0002-4306-0404. Institute of Archaeology,

Uni versity of Wrocław.

*** ORCID: 0000-0002-6326-8181. Institute of Environmental

Biology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences.

22 Radosław Biel, Magdalena Konczewska, Paweł Konczewski

In 1868, for example, the family crypt consisting of two

cellars located under the west wing was inaugurated.

As mentioned, the archaeological research on Grodno

Castle has so far been carried out to a very limited ex-

tent. As a result of works in the 1980s, the foundation of

a structure – older than the 14

century buildings – was

discovered in the courtyard and under the northern wing

of the upper castle [5]; however, the full results of these

studies have yet to be published. The aim of the archaeo-

logical research conducted in recent years was to identify

the contexts of formation, nature, and chronology of the

layers forming the embankment located on the zwinger

(Fig. 1). Excavation research started in 2017 [6], and then

continued in 2018 [7] and 2019 [8]. At that time, three

probing trenches numbered 5, 6, and 7 were marked out

(Fig. 2). The trenches numbered 1–3 were made in De-

cember 2016. Further checks on some of the geophysical

anomalies revealed during GPR surveys in the courtyard

of the upper castle and in the cellars turned out to be partly

natural and partly caused by the grounding of the light-

ning rod. The following text does not describe the results

of surveys 1–3 in more detail because they are of little

importance for learning about the history of the castle.

The stratigraphic units (stratigraphic units, here abbre-

viated to JS, layers and archaeological objects) discovered

during the excavations were explored by hand whenever

possible. The soil excavated from the trenches was heaped

next to them, and then searched again for small relics that

had been lost during the exploration. Taking into account

the specicity of the studied site [6], metal detectors were

used which allowed for the in situ location of some nds

to be determined, such as boltheads. During the excava-

tions, descriptive, photographic, and drawing documenta-

tion was prepared on an ongoing basis. After completion

of the exploration, a three-dimensional model of each sur-

vey was made using Structure from Motion (SfM) photo-

grammetry techniques [9]. The acquired movable histori-

cal material was inventoried, preserved, and subjected to

material, stylistic, typological, and chronological analyses

that established the absolute dating of the discovered stra-

tigraphic units.

Stratigraphy of cultural layers on the winger

and the courtyard of the upper castle

Further on in this article, the stratigraphy of the archae-

ological layers is briey presented along with their func-

tional and chronological interpretation which starts with

the oldest layers in the deepest parts of the trenches. In

some of the trenches, especially in No. 5 located along the

outer northwest perimeter wall of the upper castle (Fig. 2),

the bottom of the trench is a bedrock in the form of So-

wie Mountains gneiss. The slope of the mountain was fall-

ing rapidly about 2 m from the face of the wall and was

covered with dark brown sand mixed with a weathered

rock, the thickness of which increased in proportion to the

distance from the castle wall. The lack of archaeological

nds in this layer is most likely due to natural processes

taking place before the construction of the castle. After all,

traces of the rst use of the land in the Middle Ages are

relatively modest with the oldest monuments dating back

to the 14

century. Possibly during that period of time, the

settlement activity focused on the upper castle; therefore,

Fig. 1. Zagórze Śląskie, Grodno Castle.

The embankment in the zwinger area during archaeological research

in trench No. 6. View from the north-west (photo by P. Konczewski)

Il. 1. Zagórze Śląskie, zamek Grodno.

Nasyp na międzymurzu zamku górnego i fortyfikacji bastejowych

zamku dolnego w trakcie badań archeologicznych w sondażu 6.

Widok od północnego zachodu (fot. P. Konczewski)

Fig. 2. Zagórze Śląskie, Grodno Castle. Locations of archaeological

trenches from 2016–2019 (elaborated by R. Biel)

Il. 2. Zagórze Śląskie, zamek Grodno. Lokalizacja sondaży

archeologicznych z lat 2017–2019 (oprac. R. Biel)

 ArchaeologicalresearchatGrodnoCastleinZagórzeŚląskiefrom2017to2019 23

which was considered as an attempt to level and clean the

area after the re (JS 5005, 6003). Also, the next early

layers (JS 5004, 6002, 7004), dating back to the 17

and

centuries, showed signs of res. They were hetero-

geneous, mixed layers of debris, burnt, and sandy humus

which is dicult to interpret if they are separated into

more precise and smaller stratigraphic units. They illus-

trate the declining phase of the functioning of the upper

castle and its slow decline from the Thirty Years’ War to

the collapse of the northern wing in 1789. The remains of

the latter seem to be two large fragments of walls found in

the ceiling part of this level (JS 7003 and 7002). The last

horizon was made up of contemporary layers, almost 2 m

thick (Fig. 4), consisting mainly rubble, bricks, stones,

sand, and humus (JS 5001 and 5002).

In the case of the courtyard of the upper castle, eight

stratigraphic units were distinguished [6], revealing at the

same time that the southern and western wings were built

during one construction stage. This is evidenced by the

fact that the latter was not added to the nished building

but joined by toothing. However, due to the small area of

the small thickness of the layers, which, undergoing the

run-o process, settled in a place where the slope was not

so steep (JS 5006, 6003, 6004, 7007).

The activity of the castle’s inhabitants of that time in-

creased in the 15

century when the rst stone structure

discovered in trenches Nos. 6 and 7 (JS 6005 and 7006)

was built. Initially, the structure was interpreted as a rem-

nant of the so-called parkan (wooden fence-like forti-

cation) that was intended to function as additional pro-

tection for the castle against enemies using rearms. The

destruction of the parkan probably took place before the

middle of the 15

century (possibly during the Hussite

Wars). This determination was established on the basis

of a large amount of historic material found in the black

layer of supple humus with scorch marks (JS 5004, 6004,

and 7005) (Figs. 3, 4)

. In several places, a layer of clay

and pugging covering the scorch marks were observed,

A detailed analysis and evaluation of the parkan hypothesis was

presented in the article by R. Biel in this issue of “Architectus”.

Fig. 4. Zagórze Śląskie,

Grodno Castle. Northern section

of trench No. 7 with numbers

of stratigraphic units:

1 – JS 7001, 2 – JS 7002,

4 – JS 7004, 5 – JS 7005,

6 – JS 7006, 7 – JS 7007

(photo by P. Konczewski)

Il. 4. Zagórze Śląskie,

zamek Grodno. Sondaż 7,

profil północny:

1 – JS 7001, 2 – JS 7002,

4 – JS 7004, 5 – JS 7005,

6 – JS 7006, 7 – JS 7007

(fot. P. Konczewski)

Fig. 3. Zagórze Śląskie,

Grodno Castle.

Plan of discovered stratigraphic

units in trench No. 6 plotted on

an orthophotomap

(elaborated by R. Biel)

Il. 3. Zagórze Śląskie,

zamek Grodno. Sondaż 6.

Fotomapa jednostek

stratygraficznych

(oprac. R. Biel)

24 Radosław Biel, Magdalena Konczewska, Paweł Konczewski

edict XIII (Ponticate, Avignon obedience 1394–1417)

coins, glass cups, and pottery (Fig. 5).

The oldest coins found during excavations were issued

at the beginning of the 15

century. Medieval money is

represented by the Prague groschen of Wenceslaus IV

of Luxembourg (1378–1419) and 15

century city coins

from Silesian centers. These are hellers and bracteates

from the following mints: in Ziębice (bracteate with the

gothic letter M and heller – the uncial letter M/Lower Sile-

sian eagle in the shield), in Wrocław (heller in a square

with a Bohemian lion walking to the left around the let-

ter W-RO-WR/in a square heraldic eagle with head to the

right, around the letter MW-MO-W), in Świdnica (bracte-

ate with a representation of a boar’s head facing right), in

Głogów (heller with gothic letter G/eagle in a shield), and

in Kożuchów (heller with gothic letter M/Tower defen-

sive). A fragment of a poorly legible coin was also found

with a cross dividing the reverse into four parts lled

Ł. Orlicki presents a detailed analysis of the bull in this issue of

“Architectus”.

exposed joints and the nature of the stone structures, these

ndings may be incorrect. At the same time, the oset

of the southern wing wall was in contact with almost all

the exposed layers without any clear trace of a construc-

tion trench, which could suggest their formation during

or after its completion. It is only in the case of JS 8005

that we are not certain about this because its exploration

has been abandoned for safety reasons. Nevertheless, the

researchers suggested that it was the usable layer before

the nal four-wing buildings around the courtyard were

formed [8].

Analysis of archaeological finds

Archaeological research has provided a large collec-

tion of archaeological nds that are important sources of

information about the following: heating devices operat-

ing in the castle, roong, metal accessories related to the

construction and equipment of buildings and everyday

life in Grodno Castle. Good chronological markers which

allow for a fairly precise determination of the chronology

of individual stratigraphic units are the papal bull of Ben-

Fig. 5. Zagórze Śląskie, Grodno Castle.

election of ceramic vessels from the research carried out in 2017–2019,

dating from the 14

to 15

century: a–o – fragments of pots, p – a lid

(drawing by N. Lenkow, elaborated by M. Konczewska)

Il. 5. Zagórze Śląskie, zamek Grodno.

Wybór ceramiki naczyniowej z XIV–XV w.

z badań w latach 2017–2019:

a–o – fragmenty garnków, p – pokrywka

(rys. N. Lenkow, oprac. M. Konczewska)

Fig. 6. Zagórze Śląskie, Grodno Castle.

Selection of artefacts: a–c – bottoms of glass goblets, d – iron key;

e – a wooden chess piece, f – a fragment of a cylindrical vessel,

g – stoneware of the Falke group; a–c, e, g – trench No. 6, JS 6002;

d – trench No. 2, JS 2003; f – trench No. 7, JS 7002

(drawing by A. Konicka, N. Lenkow,

elaborated by M. Konczewska)

Il. 6. Zagórze Śląskie, zamek Grodno.

Wybór zabytków ruchomych: a–c – dna pucharów szklanych,

d – klucz żelazny, e – drewniany pion szachowy,

f – fragment naczynia cylindrycznego, g – kamionka grupy Falkego;

a–c, e, g – sondaż 6, JS 6002, d – sondaż 2, JS 2003,

f – sondaż 7, JS 7002

(rys. A. Konicka, N. Lenkow, oprac. M. Konczewska)

 ArchaeologicalresearchatGrodnoCastleinZagórzeŚląskiefrom2017to2019 25

Roof tiles of this type – along with trough tiles and various

crown and plain tiles – were popular in the late Middle

Ages in most Silesian towns. They were mainly used to

cover the roofs of churches, townhouses near the market

square, and castles [14], [15]. During the research, sev-

eral fragments of zinc plates were also discovered which

can be linked to the roong in the form of sh scales.

Hundreds of nails discovered in the burnt layers from the

century (JS 5004, 6004 and 7005) are probably con-

nected with the structure of the roofs of the upper castle,

some with adjacent fragments of charred wood. Most like-

ly, they are remnants of the roong shingles.

The glazing of the window openings is conrmed by

fragments of lumps, 27 pieces of stained glass panes, and

nine pieces of lead frames, as well as glass panes with

a thickness of about 1 cm. The glass windows consisted of

small panes joined together by lead lamellae. Panes made

of lead framed lumps were commonly used and comple-

mented by inter-cellular triangles. In central Europe, the

oldest form is considered to be diamond-shaped glass in

use from the 2

half of the 14

to the 17

century. Tiled

windows do not appear until the 17

century [16], [17].

The castle rooms were lit with candles and lamps as evi-

denced by the presence of wick scissors and a fragment of

a torn lamp holder.

Metal building hardware is related to the structure and

equipment of buildings. The most numerous examples are

iron. For example, forged nails of various sizes that were

used to connect wooden elements. The longer ones were

probably used to connect construction beams, medium-

length ones for nailing hinges and construction ttings,

while small nails were used mainly for furniture. The sur-

vey excavations also found hooks, staples, and construc-

tion wedges, three staples, two leaf keys, a keyhole tting,

two fragments from the 20

century door locks, and two

chest handles. The uncovered U-shaped staples could have

been part of the dents used to close the doors of cottages

and even manors until the end of the 18

century [18].

The remains of the heating devices are two pieces of

ceramic oor tiles that can be combined with a hypocaust

stove and 402 pieces of stove tiles. Heating with warm

air appeared in Silesia in the 13

century [15]. Warm air

was distributed through short channels through openings

in the oor and entered the room above the stove. The

oor tiles with heating openings were provided with an

omni-directional groove for inserting a cover that closed

the opening. Stove tiles are represented by two types of

tiles: simple vessel type and complex relief type (Fig. 7).

They are made of clay with a ne-grain slimming admix-

ture, then red in an oxidizing atmosphere to a cream or

cream-gray color. In the case of simple tiles, they were

also red to a brick-red color. The collection is dominated

by simple tiles and over 80% of those are made with a pot-

ter’s wheel. The fragmentary state of preservation makes

it impossible to determine whether they are pot or bowl

tiles. Six fragments of spherical tiles were also found in

the group. Among the pot or bowl tiles, there are examples

with smooth and grooved walls and with round (Fig. 7d)

and square holes (Fig. 7e). The side length of tiles with

square holes is over 13 to 14 cm, and the diameter of tiles

with dots, and this was interpreted as a Dutch or English

sterling from the 17

or 18

centuries. Additionally, this

coin had a hole pierced through it, which may suggest that

the coin was worn as a pendant

. The remaining coins dis-

covered in the castle come from the 20

century.

Among the fragments of glassware, spouts and feet

of ute cups were identied (Figs. 6a–c), with the bot-

tom pushed inside and a foot made of glass tape or thread

wrapped around the edge of the bottom. There were also

fragments of colorless glass cups with nodules in the form

of pimples stretched upwards and a fragment of a vessel

with large oval bumps. One of the fragments is considered

to be that of a blown cup decorated with ribs that is also

made of colorless glass. Flute cups were very popular in

Silesia where they appeared around the mid-14

centu-

ry and were used approximately through the 16

century.

They are found in the Czech Republic, Saxony, northern

Germany and Scandinavia. The forms characteristic of

Silesia are cups with large oval bumps that date from the

and 15

centuries. Cups with pimples and ribs have

a similar chronology [10].

An interesting nd is a fragment of a stoneware vessel

from the so-called Falke’s group, and it is decorated with

a square stamp with four points (Fig. 6g). Characteristic

for this group of products are cylindrical and pear-shaped

cups as well as spherical jars made of gray stoneware and

covered with brown-red engobe. They are also ornament-

ed with stamp decorations and gural reliefs. Finds of this

type of vessels are concentrated mainly in Silesia, Lusatia,

and Saxony where they are dated to the turn of the 14

and 15

centuries. Their distribution covered distant areas

of central and northern Europe [11]. The origin of the so-

called Falke’s group is not denitively established. Baut-

zen and Zittau are mentioned as places of their production

and other local centers [11], [12]. As evidenced by their

presence in cities, castles, and monasteries, these richly

ornamented stoneware vessels were undoubtedly luxury

products. Ceramic vessels are among the most numerous

category of artifacts discovered during our research at the

castle (11 265 fragments). Among the forms, there were

pots, bowls, lids, three-legged pans, jugs, plates, and cups

(Fig. 5). There were also fragments of large thick-walled

vessels with a hood-shaped spout. The surfaces of the dish-

es were smooth or decorated with circumferential grooves,

folds modeled in the wall, a stamp ornament (Fig. 6f),

a crest (Fig. 5l), and single or multiple strips painted with

red dye (Figs. 5a–e). The outlets of late medieval pots are

represented by variations of the hood (Figs. 5a–c, k, n) and

the asks (Figs. 5d, e, m). The edges of tall, slender eaves

proled from outside the castle were characteristic of the

half of the 14

as well as in the 15

centuries [13].

A fragment of a Monk and Nun style roof tile made

of clay red brick-red has been preserved from the for-

mer roong of the castle. The context of the discovery of

this artifact (trench No. 6, JS 6004) allows it to be linked

with the reconstruction of the castle in the 16

century.

The authors would like to thank MA Paweł Milejski for his help

in identifying coins.

26 Radosław Biel, Magdalena Konczewska, Paweł Konczewski

with round holes is approximately 13 cm. The edges of

the opening were most often inclined inwards; less often,

they were straight or obliquely cut or turned outwards.

Relief tiles consisted of a facing board butt joint with an

open chamber. The places of connection were glued on

the inside with clay. Fragments of middle facing tiles,

a fragment of a corner tile, and a cornice tile with a length

of over 11.5 cm were noted. The faces were decorated in

relief with convex gural, oral, and geometric motifs

(Fig. 7a–c). Decorations were imprinted in a matrix. Some

of the specimens were covered with green, yellow-green,

brown, or navy-blue glaze. The only tile that could be

partially reconstructed was rectangular, 17.8 × 18.8 cm in

size and not covered with glaze. Unfortunately, the state

of its preservation did not allow the depth of the chamber

to be reconstructed. In the discussed specimen, men ght-

ing with swords are depicted; they are dressed according

to gothic fashion in a short robe with gussets ared from

the waist and a belt around the hips. Additionally, they

are wearing shoes with elongated pointed toes. One of the

adversaries holds a pavise and the other holds a buckler

(Fig. 7a). The stratigraphic position of nding this tile

(trench No. 7, JS 5) allows us to establish its chronology

to the mid-15

century.

The scene on this tile (Fig. 7a) was probably modeled on

medieval combat manuals. A duel with swords and buck-

lers was placed, among others, on the southern façade

of the Wrocław town hall from the 1480s [19]. Bucklers

were a popular type of weapon in the Middle Ages, used

during battles, duels, and trials by ordeal (judgment of

God). Tiles depicting swordsmen ghting with swords

and bucklers date to the 3

quarter of the 15

century and

were found in the basement of a tenement house in Jawor

and at the top of Ślęża [20]. Tiles with a similar theme

from the 2

half of the 15

century are known from the

area of Moravia, including the castle of Bouzov and Olo-

mouc [21]. By analyzing the metric and technological

features, morphology, and the ornamentation of the stove

tiles, the conclusion can be drawn that they come from the

construction of several stoves from dierent time periods.

The oldest stove, dating back more or less to the mid-15

century, probably consisted of two parts – a lower one

made of vessel tiles and an upper one made of relief tiles

with a dual motif. The whole structure was topped with

a dome made of spherical tiles. Among the fragments of

renaissance and baroque style tiles, the presence of corner

and cornice tiles from dierent stoves was noted because

they diered in glaze color and style. At least one of the

stoves was built on a quadrilateral plan, and the individ-

ual segments of the other were separated by a cornice.

The rectangular form provided a larger heating surface

and was easier to build and more convenient for loading

the charge than a round furnace. Stoves with ornamented

tiles, apart from their heating function, were a decorative

element of the interior and could function for several de-

cades or even centuries.

In Silesia, pot tiles were used to build stoves as early

as the 14

century. In the 1

half of the 15

century, bowl

and spherical tiles appeared. These forms were also popu-

lar in the 16

and early 17

centuries, and their disappear-

ance did not take place until the 18

century [22], [23].

The collection of late medieval military items discov-

ered at the castle (Fig. 8) includes a ranged weapon (ve

projectile points), a spear (spearhead sleeve), and elements

of equestrian gear (type III spur according to Hilcze rów-

na). Two fragments of iron horseshoes can probably be

Fig. 7. Zagórze Śląskie, Grodno Castle. Stove tiles, trench No. 7, JS 7005:

a–c – relief tiles, d–e – vessel tiles

(drawing by A. Konicka, elaborated by M. Konczewska)

Il. 7. Zagórze Śląskie, zamek Grodno.

Kafle piecowe, sondaż 7, JS 7005:

a–c – kafle płytowe, d–e – kafle proste

(rys. A. Konicka, oprac. M. Konczewska)

Fig. 8. Zagórze Śląskie, Grodno Castle.

An arrowhead (bolthead?) from the 15

century,

trench No. 6, JS 6004 (photo by M. Konczewska)

Il. 8. Zagórze Śląskie, zamek Grodno.

Grot broni strzelczej (bełtu?) z XV w., sondaż 6, JS 6004

(fot. M. Konczewska)

 ArchaeologicalresearchatGrodnoCastleinZagórzeŚląskiefrom2017to2019 27

connected with the last category. The obtained points with

a square leaf and a round sleeve were classied as cross-

bow boltheads. The problem of determining the func-

tions of the iron tips and distinguishing the weapons from

which they were red is based on the criteria of weight

and the diameter of the sleeve outlet, both of which have

been controversial for years [19]. Among the items with

a universal function are knives (seven items) and belt

parts (represented by three buckles, including one with

a proled frame); these artifacts all deserve more schol-

arly attention. Weaving, embroidery, and tailoring in the

Middle Ages and later were often activities performed

mainly by women. A spindle, two metal thimbles, ve

pins and a needle were discovered in the castle. Finds re-

lated to games (bone dice, a chess piece, and three glass

balls) prove that entertainment played an important role in

the lives of the castle inhabitants.

Summary

As a result of the research, six phases were distin-

guished within the relative chronology of the registered

layers forming the embankment on the zwinger. Starting

with the earliest phase, they are as follows:

1) the beginning of the castle’s functioning, activities

concentrated within the upper castle dating back to the

century,

2) construction of a hypothetical parkan at the begin-

ning of the 15

century,

3) destruction of the parkan and a re as a result of

a siege that took place around the middle of the 15

cen-

tury,

4) cleaning and reconstruction of the castle in the 16

century,

5) gradual degradation of the upper castle in the 17

and 18

centuries,

6) works related to the conservation of the castle ruins

in the 19

and 20

centuries.

Only in the case of phases three and four can narrow

time intervals be assigned with a high degree of proba-

bility, and this is based on the correlation of the results

of the dating of the discovered archaeological nds with

information contained in written sources. For phase three,

the probable dates are the Hussite raid of 1429 [4], the

moment of taking over the castle by King George of Po-

diebrady in 1463 [24], or events related to the activity of

robber knights. Phase four can be linked to the activities

of the Logau family in 1545–1587. The inhomogeneous

layers associated with phase ve were deposited over an

even longer time; therefore, the result was the slow deg-

radation of the building, which culminated in the collapse

of the northern wing of the upper castle in 1789. A similar

situation, but even harder to discern in detail, was regis-

tered in the case of phase six. Heterogeneous layers of con-

struction debris with sand, humus, and a thickness reach

ing

almost 2 m were assigned. The nds discovered in it, even

in their lowest parts, could be associated with the PTTK

shelter functioning then in this place [2].

As for the discoveries made, the most spectacular one

was the layer of black supple humus with burns and nu-

merous artifacts (Fig. 4) that was discovered in all the

trenches on the zwinger (JS 5004, 6004 and 7005). The

military equipment found in this layer, mainly the arrow-

heads of small arms (Fig. 8) seem to testify that a siege

had taken place there. The layout of points discovered in

situ suggests that the attack on the castle was carried out

from the most accessible northwest terrain. The structure

of this layer indicates that we are dealing with a post-bat-

tle re site. In the 15

century, this layer accumulated

between the northwest part of the perimeter wall of the

upper castle and the parkan erected at its foot. Numerous

fragments of charred shingles and nails discovered in the

re layer connect them, and show that in the 15

century

at least some buildings of the upper castle were covered

with shingles. In theory, such a cover probably had the

defensive sidewalk (guard porch) on the crown of the pe-

rimeter wall.

The research still raises many questions that are dicult

to answer. When was the 15

century siege fought exactly

and who did they ght against? As a result of the siege,

which part of the castle was least aected by the re? What

was the result of the re? Had the castle been conquered,

or did the besiegers leave empty-handed? Archaeological

layers and nds indicate that this event took place in the

century, specically in the 1

half. As Artur Bogusze-

wicz noted [4, further literature here], this is an extremely

poorly researched period in the history of Grodno Castle.

A clarication of the above can be obtained from both

archival queries and further excavation research. The lat-

ter may provide a larger series of exact archaeological

date stamps and subsequent coins. Further archaeologi-

cal research on Grodno Castle could provide a number of

answers to questions about the details of its history. The

excavations at the upper castle should be aimed at veri-

fying the beginnings of its function. Further research at

the lower castle could provide more information on how

this plateau was developed before the 16

century. Under-

taking systematic archaeological research into the entire

castle area would allow us to better understand the func-

tioning of the economic base of the castle and the roles it

has played over the centuries.

Translated by

eCORRECTOR

References

[1] Kondracki J., GeograaregionalnaPolski, PWN, Warszawa 1998.

[2] Rozpędowski J., ZagórzeŚląskie–ZamekGrodno, “Zeszyty Nauko-

we Politechniki Wrocławskiej. Architektura 2” 1957, Nr 16, 7–32.

[3] Schubert H., Burg Kinsberg in Schlesien. Beschreibung und Ge-

schichte derselben nach urkundlichen Material bearbeitet, Verlag

von Max Woywod, Breslau 1886.

28 Radosław Biel, Magdalena Konczewska, Paweł Konczewski

Abstract

Archaeological research at Grodno Castle in Zagórze Śląskie from 2017 to 2019

Although Grodno Castle (Kynsburg), located in the southern part of the Wałbrzyskie Mountains, due to its turbulent history has been popular since

the 19

century, this fact has never translated into the level of advancement of the scientic studies devoted to it. Until recently, scientic research,

especially excavations, was carried out to a very limited extent. The aim of the article is to present and discuss the results of archaeological research

conducted in 2017–2019 and its correlation with the knowledge provided to us by written sources. For this purpose, the most important historical

events related to the functioning of Grodno Castle are briey discussed. Then, the results of analyzes of the nature and relative chronology of the

stratigraphic layers forming the embankment located on the castle zwinger and lying in the courtyard of the upper castle are presented, along with

summarizing the conclusions of the typological, morphological, chronological and comparative analyzes of the archaeological nds discovered dur-

ing the excavations. As a result of these activities, in the case of the layers forming the embankment located on the zwinger, 6 phases of anthropogenic

activity were distinguished, which were related to historical events, and an image of the material culture of the castle inhabitants and the changes

taking place in it over more than seven centuries were obtained.

Key words: castles, Late Middle Ages, Early modern period, Silesia, Hussite wars, robber knights

Streszczenie

Badania archeologiczne na zamku Grodno w Zagórzu Śląskim w latach 2017–2019

Choć zamek Grodno (Kynsburg), położony w południowej części Gór Wałbrzyskich, wskutek swej burzliwej historii cieszył się popularnością

już od XIX w., nigdy nie przełożyła się ona na stopień zaawansowania poświęconych mu studiów naukowych. Jeszcze do niedawna badania na-

ukowe, a szczególnie prace wykopaliskowe prowadzono tam w bardzo ograniczonym stopniu. Celem artykułu jest zaprezentowanie i omówienie

wyników badań archeologicznych prowadzonych w latach 2017–2019 i ich korelacja z informacjami ze źródeł pisanych. W tym celu skrótowo

omówiono najważniejsze znane wydarzenia historyczne związane z funkcjonowaniem zamku Grodno. Następnie zaprezentowano wyniki analiz

charakteru i względnej chronologii nawarstwień stratygracznych tworzących nasyp zlokalizowany na zamkowym międzymurzu oraz zalegających

na dziedzińcu zamku górnego, a także podsumowano wnioski płynące z wykonanych analiz typologicznych, morfologicznych, chronologicznych

i porównawczych ruchomego materiału zabytkowego, odkrytego w trakcie badań przeprowadzonych metodą wykopaliskową. W efekcie tych dzia-

łań, w przypadku nawarstwień tworzących nasyp położony na międzymurzu, wyróżniono sześć faz aktywności antropogenicznej, które powiązano

z historycznymi wydarzeniami, a także uzyskano obraz kultury materialnej mieszkańców zamku i zachodzących w niej zmian na przestrzeni przeszło

siedmiu wieków.

Słowa kluczowe: zamki, późne średniowiecze, okres wczesnonowożytny, Śląsk, wojny husyckie, rycerze-rabusie

[4] Boguszewicz A., CoronaSilesiae.ZamkiPiastówfürstenberskich

na południowym pograniczu księstwa jaworskiego, świdnickiego

iziębickiegodopołowyXIVwieku, Wydział Nauk Historycznych

i Pe dagogicznych Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego, Wrocław 2010.

[5] Berduła L., Dokumentacjapracwykopaliskowychprzeprowadzo-

nychw Zagórzu Śląskim na ZamkuGrodnow 1987r., Wrocław

1987 [manuscript in: Archiwum KHASiT PWr].

[6] Konczewski P., Biel R., Sprawozdaniezposzukiwańibadańarche-

ologicznychnaZamkuGrodnowZagórzuŚląskim,gminaWalim,

Wrocław 2017 [manuscript in: Archiwum Delegatury Wojewódz-

kiego Urzędu Ochrony Zabytków, Wałbrzych].

[7] Konczewski P., Biel R., Sprawozdaniezbadańarcheologicznych

namiędzymurzuZamkuGrodnowZagórzuŚląskim, Wrocław 2018

[manuscript in: Archiwum Delegatury Wojewódzkiego Urzędu

Ochrony Zabytków, Wałbrzych].

[8] Konczewski P., Biel R., Sprawozdaniezbadańarcheologicznych

naZamkuGrodnowZagórzuŚląskim, Wrocław 2019 [manuscript

in: Archiwum Delegatury Wojewódzkiego Urzędu Ochrony Zabyt-

ków, Wałbrzych].

[9] Häming K., Peters G., The structure-from-motion reconstruction

pipeline-asurveywithfocusonshortimagesequences, “Kybernet-

ika” 2010, Vol. 46, No. 5, 926–937.

[10] Biszkont J., Późnośredniowieczne szklarstwo na Śląsku, “Wra-

tislavia Antiqua” 7, Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Instytut Archeologii,

Wrocław 2005.

[11] Stephan H.G., Badania nad ceramiką „grupy Falkego”. Bogato

zdobionagotyckakamionkałużyckaijejśrodowiskoarcheologicz-

no-historyczne, [in:] J. Piekalski, K. Wachowski (red.), Wrocław

na przełomie średniowiecza i czasów nowożytnych. Materialne

przejawyżyciacodziennego, “Wratislavia Antiqua” 6, Uniwersytet

Wrocławski, Instytut Archeologii, Wrocław 2004, 293–329.

[12] Krabath S., Europejskieośrodkiprodukcjikamionkiwewczesnych

czasachnowożytnych, [in:] A. Bober-Tubaj et al. (red.), Uźródeł

bolesławieckiejceramiki.Bolesławiecjakojedenzośrodkówgarn-

carstwaśrodkowoeuropejskiego od XVdo XVII w., Moniatowicz

Foto Studio, Jelenia Góra 2012, 263–328.

[13] Rzeźnik P., Materiały ceramiczne, “Silesia Antiqua” 1998, t. 39,

221–238.

[14] Małachowicz M., Ceramika budowlana średniowiecznego Wro-

cławia, [in:] C. Buśko (red.), Wschodnia strefa Starego Miasta

we Wrocławiu w XII–XIV wieku. Badania na placu Nowy Targ,

Uni wersytet Wrocławski, Instytut Archeologii, Wrocław 2005,

111–134.

[15] Chorowska M., RezydencjeśredniowiecznenaŚląsku.Zamki,pa-

łace,wieżemieszkalne, Ocyna Wydawnicza PWr, Wrocław 2003.

[16] Tajchman J., Stolarka okienna, “Słownik terminologiczny archi-

tektury”, z. 1, Ośrodek Dokumentacji Zabytków, Warszawa 1993.

[17] Konczewska M., Konczewski P., Zabytkimetalowezfosymiejskiej

we Wrocławiu, [in:] J. Piekalski, K. Wachowski (red.), Wrocław

na przełomie średniowiecza i czasów nowożytnych. Materialne

przejawyżyciacodziennego, “Wratislavia Antiqua” 6, Uniwersytet

Wrocławski, Instytut Archeologii, Wrocław 2004, 89–205.

[18] Jasiewicz Z., Studia historyczno-etnograczne nad kowalstwem

wiejskimwWielkopolsce, UAM, Poznań 1963.

[19] Marek L., BrońbiałanaŚląskuXIV–XVIw., “Wratislavia Antiqua”

10, Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Instytut Archeologii, Wrocław 2008.

[20] Gündel Ch., Figürliche Ofenkacheln des 15 Jahrhunderts, “Alt-

schlesien” 1934, Bd. 4, nr 4, 288–293.

[21]

Pawlik Ć., Velkýobrazowýatlasgotickýchkachlovýchreliéfů.Čechy,

Morava,českéSlazsko, Nakladatelstvi Libri, Praha 2017.

[22] Dąbrowska M., Kae i piece kaowe w Polsce do końca XVIII

wieku, “Studia i Materiały z Historii Kultury Materialnej”, t. 58,

Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich, Wrocław–Warszawa–Kra-

ków–Gdańsk–Łódź 1987.

[23] Dymek K., Średniowieczneirenesansowekaeśląskie, Uniwersy-

tet Wrocławski – CBŚiB, Wrocław 1995.

[24] Weber R., Schlesische Schlösser, Bd. 2, Meisenbach Riarth &

Co., Dresden–Breslau 1910.

Archaeological research at Grodno Castle in Zagórze Śląskie from 2017 to 2019

Radosław Biel, Magdalena Konczewska, Paweł Konczewski

doi:10.37190/arc210402

Abstract