The establishment of the fortified settlement is linked to the tribal period.

Location and description

The ring fort is located on the western edge of the village, approx. 1.5 km from its centre, on the left bank of the Łupieża stream, in the vicinity of a mill, on the south side of the road crossing a watercourse and leading to a forest. The whole site is overgrown with trees.

The ring fort is well-preserved, concave, adjoins ancillary settlements on the southern side, and is surrounded with a rampart. The whole complex measures approx. 100 metres by 300 metres; the ring fort itself is much smaller.

History

Findings from archaeological investigations indicate that the early medieval fortified settlement existed from the 7th century to the late 11th century, i.e., the tribal period before the rise of statehood and the period of the establishment of Polish state structures. Such date of origin was determined based on pieces of pottery found during archaeological investigations.

Condition and results of archaeological research

The ring fort in Kije was discovered as early as before World War II, but known archaeological find were unearthed only in 1958 during surface surveys carried out by members of the staff of the Archaeological Museum in Poznań. Later surface penetrations had a negative outcome, which must but associated with afforestation of the entire site.

Accessible historic building. An information plaque is in front of the ring fort, by the road.

Compiled by dr Krzysztof Garbacz, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Zielona Góra, 29-08-2014 r.

Bibliography

• Hensel W., Studia i materiały do osadnictwa Wielkopolski wczesnohistorycznej, t. 3, Poznań 1959, s. 68.
• Kurnatowska Z., Łosińska A., Perspektywy badań nad wczesnym średniowieczem Ziemi Lubuskiej, [w:] Człowiek a środowisko w środkowym i dolnym Nadodrzu. Badania nad osadnictwem pra- i wczesnodziejowym, Spotkania Bytomskie 2, Wrocław 1996, s. 168, nr 31.
• Lewczuk J., Gród i jego zaplecze w świetle badań powierzchniowych AZP na terenie województwa zielonogórskiego, [w:] Centrum i zaplecze we wczesnośredniowiecznej Europie Środkowej, Wrocław 1999, s. 238 nr 19, ryc. 1-3.
• Śmigielski W., Materiały z badań powierzchniowych na ziemi lubuskiej, „Fontes Archaeologici Posnanienses” 1961, t. 12, s. 296-297.