Location and description

The barrow is situated in a ploughed field in the north-western part of the village of Bielawy, at the edge of a small watercourse valley. The barrow is approx. 27 m in length and 19 m in diameter at the base, estimated to be about 3 m in height. The barrow surface is overgrown with grass and isolated trees. The stone sheathing, i.e. the outer cover of the barrow is clearly visible under the grass. The central part of the barrow has caved in, forming a hollow. The northern part of the mound is best preserved.

History

Rostołty type Jaskanis, dated back to the C2-C3 - C/D period, built in a former settlement which operated between the close of the late pre-Roman period and the beginning of the Roman period. The site is partly destroyed by looters’ digs.

The site was discovered during surface archaeological surveys in 1988.

Condition and results of archaeological research

In 1996, the first and so far the only excavations were carried out, which showed that the site had been plundered. The findings of the research included an undamaged fragment of an original burial chamber, unfortunately devoid of burial remains. Movable heritage items were also acquired, probably representing remains of equipment of the deceased. The most interesting items were a bronze clasp and fragments of glass objects. There were also remains of ceramic vessels and quern stones. It was also determined that owing to the size and structure of the barrow it could be classified among sepulchral structures of the Rostołty type characteristic of the Wielbark culture. Traces of a settlement were found under layers related to the barrow.

Due to its location in the field and a clear elevation, the barrow is clearly visible from the road leading to the village of Bielawy. It is also part of the educational path “On the trail of the Poborze barrows”, organised in 2003 by pupils of the Lower Secondary School in Janowiec Kościelny.

Compiled by Hanna Mackiewicz, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Olsztyn, 26.08.2014.

Bibliography

• Bohnsack D. Ein ostgermanisches Fürsttengrab bei Pilgramsdorf in Ostpreussen, Germanen - Erbe, 1937, s.258-261.
• Jaskanis J. Kurhany typu rostołockiego, Zeszyty Naukowe Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego, Prace Archeologiczne, z. 22, 1976, s. 215-252.
• Michalski J. Kurhan kultury wielbarskiej na st. IV w Bielawach, gm. Janowiec Koscielny, woj. warmińsko-mazurskie [w:] Warmińsko-mazurski biuletyn konserwatorski, rocznik III, 2001, s. 50-81.