The establishment of the fortified settlement is linked to the Early Middle Ages.

Location and description

The hill fort is located 1.6 km to the north of the eastern end of the village of Skąpe, approx. 600 m to the east of the road leading to the village of Łąkie, on the south side of the stream flowing in the immediate vicinity of the former fortified settlement.

The concave hill fort consists of two parts and has been significantly levelled. It measures 120 m by 85 m (original dimensions 140 x 115 m). The outline of the western section of the hill fort, which measures 60 x 80 m, is more clear. The outline of the eastern section, which has been preserved in the form of a small clump, is less discernible. The hill fort is surrounded by a moat, whose outline is partially discernible.

History

It follows from the archaeological investigations carried out several times by German and Polish archaeologists that the fortified settlement existed in the 9th century to the mid- 10th century. Such date of origin was determined based on pieces of pottery uncovered during excavations and collected on the surface of the hill fort.

Condition and results of archaeological research

The hill fort was excavated several times before the Second World War. Small excavations undertaken by pastor Mueller and Hilscher revealed numerous fragments of ‘Slavic’ ceramics and two spindle whorls. Moreover, archaeologists discovered a one-metre-thick layer of burned material with overburned wooden and stone structures, and fractions of ceramics (Hilscher’s research project). The site suffered extensive damage due to stones being brought out and the structure being levelled. In 1932, part of the hill fort was distributed to the surrounding meadows; at that time excavations uncovered overburned wooden structures and layers of overburned clay and stones. After the Second World War, surface surveys, including surface surveys, were carried out on the site several times (in 1962 by A. Kołodziejski, in 1983 by Alina Łosińska and W. Łosiński, and in 1985 byZofia Kurnatowska, Alina Łosińska and M. Nowacki). In 1985, a small-scale trial excavation was undertaken, as a result of which researchers found the presence of an intense cultural layer. The materials found at the site of the hill fort include, in particular, fragments of vessels turned at the top, with a predominance of double cone-like form with various types of decorative motifs (such as furrows, grooves, lines and wavy strips).

The monument is available to visitors.

Compiled by dr Krzysztof Garbacz, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Zielona Góra,10-09-2014 r.

Bibliography

• Hensel W., Hilczer-Kurnatowska Z., Studia i materiały do osadnictwa Wielkopolski wczesnohistorycznej, t. 6, Poznań 1987, s. 108-110.
• 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 43.
• 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. 239, nr 39, ryc. 1, 2.