It is proof of the extensive network of early medieval settlement and an important element of the cultural landscape.

Location and description

The hill fort is situated in the forest, about 350 m south of the railway from Komprachcice to Nysa, about 100 m west of the Komprachcice-Polska Nowa Wieś road, about 1,750 m north-west of the church in the village of Ochodze, on the edge of the forest complex covered by rare tree stands.

The small mound having a shape resembling a quadrangle is surrounded by a dry moat, measuring from 2 to 5 m in width and about 1.2-1.5 m in depth. A low and partly blurry earthen embankment is visible around it. The eastern edge of the structure (rampart) has been preserved in the poorest condition. The usable yard in the middle of the hill fort and is about 1 m high above the level of the surrounding area and measures about 10-11 m in diameter. Probably, it was occupied by a watchtower. The structure is protected with the surrounding protection zone measuring 25-30 m.

History

The hill fort is not thoroughly examined. Based on previous information, it is assumed that a fortified settlement could have been functioning from the end of the 14th century and over the 15th century.

It was known as early as at the beginning of the 20th century and was called "Grodzisko" by the local population. Because of the location on the inaccessible site adjacent to a military airport, the structure was not previously described. The existence of the "mound" was reported to the Voivodeship Monuments Protection Office in Opole by historian Mirosław Leśniewski and Martyna Przywara; an inspection by a monuments protection officer in 2006 confirmed the existence of an archaeological site.

Condition and results of archaeological research

Exploratory surveys conducted by Ewa Matuszczyk and Ewelina Holc under the direction of Krzysztof Spychała in 2007 revealed the presence of three archaeological layers and initially determined the chronology of the site.

The site is open to visitors. It is located in an area of the State Forests, at a road leading to the north, towards Polska Nowa Wieś, branched from the new road from Komprachcice to Szydłów.

compiled by Ewa Kalbarczyk, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Opole, 13-10-2014.

Bibliography

• Kaźmierczyk J., Macewicz K., Wuszkan S., Studia i materiały do osadnictwa Opolszczyzny wczesnośredniowiecznej, Opole 1977, pp. 311-313.
• Tomczak E., Mało znane warownie Górnego Śląska, Katowice 2012, pp. 128-131.
• Spychała K., “Odkrycia archeologiczne na Górnym Śląsku…”, Śląskie Centrum Dziedzictwa Kulturowego, Katowice 2008;
• Spychała K., Archeologia Żywa, 3/2006, pp. 62-63;
• Spychała K., Sprawozdanie z badań sondażowych gródka w Ochodzach, gmina Komprachcice, stan. nr 8, Archives of the Voivodeship Monuments Protection Office in Opole.