Location and description

The motte-and-bailey fort, known as Łysa Góra (Bald Mountain) or Żabia Góra (Frog Mountain) is located south of the village, among the meadows of the Samica river valley.

The shape of the hillfort approximates that of a quadrangle, with slight protrusions in the corner sections; it rises more than 4 metres above its base. A hollow measuring 20-23 m x 12-15 m is visible at the top of the embankment. In its centre stands a conical mound which J. Janosz referred to as a “keep”. Despite the large amount of peat present, the moat can still be identified, its width ranging from 2 to 3 metres. In the north, there are also remains of a causeway and a bridge.

History

A motte-and-bailey fort with an adjacent village existed here in the mid-14th century, continuing the traditions of a settlement complex consisting of a ring fort (Czacz 2a) and an ancillary settlement and cemetery, which were all abandoned in the late 10th/early 11th century. The fortified settlement on the Samica river was founded on the site of intensive prehistoric and early-historic settlement. The fortified settlement is overlaid with remnants of World War II-era trenches.

The site is believed to have been identified as early as during the first half of the 19th century, when the land around Czacz remained in the hands of count Marceli Żółtowski, the founder of an archaeological collection.

Condition and results of archaeological research

So far, only surface research has been performed on the site: 1927 - J. Kostrzewski, 1952 - A. Wędzki, 1956 - J. Kostrzewski, S. Jasnosz, Z. Pieczyński, W. Śmigielski, 1969 - S. Jasnosz, w 1980 - L. Czerniak and 2012 - M. Wróbel. A sketch of the hillfort was produced by S. Janosz in 1969. In 1988, W. Stępień made an aerial survey of the site and documented his findings as a appropriate.

Site open to visitors; drivers travelling down the National Road no. 5 can see the hillfort from a distance.

compiled by Marek Wróbel, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Poznan, 06-10-2014.

Bibliography

• Fogel J., Dawna kolekcja archeologiczna hr. Żółtowskich z Czacza koło Kościana, 2009, Folia Praehistorica Posnaniensia, t. 15, s. 358, s. 367, ryc. 4, s. 375, ryc. 12;
• Hensel W., Studia i Materiały Do Osadnictwa Wielkopolski Wczesnohistorycznej, 1950, t. 1, s. 132-133;
• Kowalenko W., Grody i osadnictwo grodowe Wielkopolski wczesnohistorycznej (od VII do XII wieku), 1938, s. 191
• Słownik Historyczno-Geograficzny Województwa Poznańskiego w Średniowieczu, cz. I, z. 2. CA - Dębowa Łęka, 1983, s. 273-278
• Śmigielski W., Wykaz nabytków Muzeum Archeologicznego w Poznaniu w roku 1956 i 1957, Fontes Archaeologici Posnanienses, 1959, t. 10, s. 270