Location and description

The hill fort is located in the forest, about 100 m west of the forest road leading from Tarnowiec to the Kurznie-Śmiechowice road, and about 1,200 m south of the south-western end of the village of Tarnowiec. It is clearly visible against the forest landscape.

The hill fort is oval in shape and measures about 45 m by 50 m. The inner yard is about 2 m taller than the surroundings. It is surrounded by a shallow moat measuring about 6-8 m in width. The structure is preserved in satisfactory condition.

History

Exploratory surveys of the site indicated that the origin of the hill fort goes back to the Late Middle Ages (13th-14th century).

Condition and results of archaeological research

The hill fort was surface-examined in the interwar period, among others by M. Hellmich in 1931, who compiled an inventory, and by J. Kaźmierczyk and Z. Trudzik in 1957. Surveys were carried out by Z. Bagniewski and J. Romanow in 1970. Excavation of the inner yard revealed several dozens of fragments of vessels dated to the 13th-14th centuries. A contour plan of the hill fort was drawn up in 1998.

Hill fort no. 1 in Śmiechowice (formerly Tarnowiec no. 1) is one of the complex of fortified settlements located on the northern side of the Odra river. According to a local tradition, it was called "the castle of Blich". It is located deep in the Stobrawa Forest. It is impossible to establish whether it was one of the watchtowers on a local trail, or a place of "rest" for local robbers. It was certainly one of the structures located in the area of the Silesian Cutting.

The hill fort is situated in an area managed by the State Forests. Hiking or cycling lovers will reach the structure by a forest road from Tarnowiec towards the Kurznie-Śmiechowice road. The structure is located on the west side of the road.

compiled by Krzysztof Spychała, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Opole, 11-12-2014.

Bibliography

• Hellmich M., Burgheugel im Bober-Katzbachgebiet, [in:] Altschlesische Blaetter, 1936, issue: 3/4, p. 104;
• Kozłowska W., Wczesnośredniowieczne grody woj. opolskiego na tle warunków fizjograficzno - gospodarczych, [in:] Kwartalnik Opolski, vol. 1, item 35 (as Tarnowiec);
• Kramarek J., Wczesnośredniowieczne grodziska ryczyńskie na Śląsku, 1969, p. 120 (as Tarnowiec);
• Bagniewski Z., Romanow J., Sprawozdanie z badań sondażowych grodzisk powiatu brzeskiego, [in:] Terenowe badania archeologiczne na Opolszczyźnie rok 1970, 1970, pp. 36-37 (as Tarnowiec);
• Kaźmierczyk J., Macewicz K., Wuszkan S., Studia i materiały do osadnictwa Opolszczyzny wczesnośredniowiecznej, 1977, pp. 512-515 (as Tarnowiec);
• Voivodeship State Archives in Wrocław, files of a team of the Self-Government Department of the Silesian Province in Wrocław, file number: 668, file title: Forst Stoberau;
• Archives of the Voivodeship Monuments Protection Office in Opole, file no. A-292/70, and Record Sheet of the Śmiechowice Archaeological Site no. 1, AZP 84-34/4.