The prehistoric necropolis has preserved barrows, and thus has a clear field form, which is rare for Bronze Age burial grounds that are usually flat and not visible in the field. The preserved arrangement of the barrows - graves, which perhaps refers to the symbol of the Sun, is an outstanding thing. The site is an invaluable source of knowledge of the earliest history of our lands.

History of the structure

The prehistoric necropolis in Mikowice, site 1 (AZP 81-33/68) was used by the people of the so-called pre-Lusatian (Tumulus) and Lusatian cultures in the 2nd and 3rd periods of the Bronze Age, i.e. from c. 1600 B.C. to c. 1100 B.C. It should be noted, however, that artefacts from the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age and from the late Middle Ages have also been found at the site.

The pre-Lusatian culture is classified as the so-called Tumulus culture. The time of its functioning is connected with the 2nd Bronze Age and the 1st half of the 3rd period of this era, that is approx. 1600 - 1200 B.C. The pre-Lusatian culture is known mainly from the discovered deposits of bronze artefacts and small bi-ritual barrow cemeteries (with a clear prevalence of skeletal burials), while settlements are rare; therefore, it is believed that the people of this culture led a rather nomadic, pastoral and warlike lifestyle.

The Lusatian culture belonged to the circle of Urnfield cultures, which spread over a large area of Europe, including almost the entire area of present-day Poland. The period of occurrence of this culture is very extensive and, in general, lasts from the 3rd Bronze Age to the end of the early Iron Age, i.e. from about 1300 B.C. to about 400 B.C., i.e. about a millennium. In general, burial grounds of the Lusatian Culture are characterized by long-term, several hundred years of use, hundreds or even thousands of graves, and the fact that they are large in area. The graves of the people of this culture were usually flat, with cremation and urn burials dominant, i.e. the burnt remains were placed in clay vessels - urns, which were very often accompanied by additional vessels containing grave offerings. The people of the Lusatian culture led a sedentary lifestyle. Extensive rural settlements and hillforts associated with this culture are known, the most famous of which was discovered in Biskupin.

Description of the structure

The cemetery is located in the forest, about 500 m northwest of the last buildings of the village. The site is located on an extensive kame plateau that stands out quite clearly in the surrounding landscape. The burial ground consists of two complexes (eastern and western) of low barrows - graves and an undetermined number and range of flat graves, not visible in the field. Particularly noteworthy is the well-preserved eastern complex of the necropolis, where the barrows cover an area of over 2 ha and are located in an area that is circular in plan (with a diameter of about 145 m), from which they radiate (from the west), giving the impression of a sun motif. The preserved layout of the graves is unique in Poland.

The site had already been excavated in the interwar period. In 1925, 1926, 1929, 1930, and 1934 excavations were conducted by G. Raschke, K. Tackenberg, K. Petersen, and L. F. Zotz, while in the post-war years research was conducted under the direction of E. Kłosińska from 1987 to 1990. The researchers found that the people who used the necropolis followed a bi-ritual burial rite. Barrows with cobblestones and stone wreaths contained skeletal burials, while cremation graves were located either in the barrows, in which they were mainly reburied, or between them and are generally chronologically younger.

Visitor access. The site is accessible all year round.

Author of the note: Michał Bugaj, Regional Branch of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage in Katowice, 14.03.2017.

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