History of the structure/dating of construction phases

A tower structure on a mound erected around the mid- 13th century, in use until the beginning of the 14th century It was the seat of Bogusław Domaradzic, a judge (1266), then chamberlain, castellan of Ujście (1277) and judge of Kalisz. The second phase of the hillfort is dated from the beginning of the 14th century until the beginning of the 2nd half of the 14th century. Wierzbięta of Smogulec (1335-1352) is associated with this period. The third period of the settlement’s functioning falls from the 2nd half of the 14th century until the beginning of the 15th century. The wooden tower was founded on a sandy mound raised in the II phase, surrounded by a now swampy moat. In the layers of the filling of the first tower, relics of a wooden floor were discovered, as well as an intensely black layer of burnt material and charcoal left after a fire from around the middle of the 14th century. The structure destroyed in the final phase III is related to brown sandy humus containing a large amount of pugging material (E. Cnotliwy, R. Rogosz, E. Wilgocki, 1994, pp. 146-147). The local name of the site is Schlossberg, Burgstall, Castle.

Description of the structure

Location of the historic structure

The hillfort is located within the Noteć proglacial valley, on the western edge of a low sand dune, by the road from Smogulec to Osieka nad Notecią, east of the Burgstall ponds and a homestead of the same name, 500 m north of Smogulec.

Description of the site

A hillfort with the dimensions 50x54 m at the base, plateau 16x16 m, height of the cone in relation to the present moat level 6.40-7.40 m. The first tower had the dimensions of 7x10 m, in phase II 7.5x8.5 m; width of the moat 6-10 m, depth of the moat 0.40 m (from the settlement side) to 2.75 m (from the east). The hillfort was damaged in the northwestern part during the road construction and in the upper part as a result of amateur research. The hillfort is covered with deciduous trees.

History of the site

Known since at least 1885, it was entered in the register of historic monuments in 1979.

Progress and findings of archaeological research

Inspection by J. Radzymiński in 1885, surface survey by a teacher Mayer in 1912, by J. Kostrzewski in 1929 and by Richter from Szczecin in 1943; in 1957 intervention research by Z. Pieczyński. The relics from the pre-war research can be found in the Archaeological Museum in Poznań, in the museum in Bydgoszcz. Relics from the research of Z. Pieczyński are in the museum in Poznań. In 1978 exploratory research was carried out by Z. Hilczerówna and A. Łosińska, in 1980 survey research carried out by E. Cnotliwy, R. Rogosz and E. Wilgocki. In 1979, a contour plan was drawn up. During the archaeological works carried out in 1980 the following items were discovered: items from the fittings of the residential tower and its equipment; military objects, elements of horseback riding gear and equestrian equipment, tools, objects of undetermined function, items made from antlers and bones, fragments of clay vessels fired in an oxidizing and reducing atmosphere, fragments of stoneware and yellow clay vessels, fragments of glass vessels.

Visitor access. The site is open to the public.

Author of the note: Marek Wróbel, Regional Branch of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage in Poznań, Field Office in Trzebiny, 22-12-2018

Bibliography

• E. Cnotliwy, R. Rogosz, E. Wilgocki, Grodzisko stożkowate w Smogulcu, gm. Gołańcz, woj. Piła, [in:] Slavia Antiqua, 1993/1994, Vol. 34, pp. 141-205;
• W. Hensel, Studia i Materiały do Osadnictwa Wielkopolski Wczesnohistorycznej, 1950, Vol. 1, pp. 153-154;
• http://www.rekonkwista.pl/projekt paluki 2.html