The 11th-century fortifications, also known as “spur.”

Kalisz. Zespół osadniczy X-XIII w. (oprac. D. Wyczółkowski)

In the 11th century, the Kalisz stronghold was one of the most important fortresses in Greater Poland. It is presumed that its fortifications reached their greatest extent at the end of the 10th or the beginning of the 11th century. Among its remains lies the so-called “spur” at the southwest corner of the stronghold. The name of the object is associated with the early belief of some researchers that it is a technical construction serving as protection for the main rampart against the waters of the river.

Stone facing of the rampart wall – known as “spur” (IAE PAN archives)

However, research indicates that one of the Prosna river channels surrounded the stronghold from the west and flowed in close proximity to the stronghold at some point. Archaeological excavations conducted in the 1960s in the southern part of the stronghold revealed remnants of the southern defensive rampart. Their discoverers believed that the remnants of the rampart were dismantled at a later period when the stronghold ceased to function, although there is no direct evidence for this. Archaeological studies conducted in 1960, known as the “spur” excavations, revealed traces of a rampart constructed with timber layers. In this manner, a section of the rampart was built facing the interior of the stronghold. A similar technique of constructing earthen timber fortifications was observed in the case of the tribal stronghold rampart and another object dated to the 10th/11th century. Fragments of such defensive constructions were uncovered in archaeological excavations in the northern part of the stronghold.

Fortifications of the stronghold from the 11th-12th centuries

On the external side, the rampart was covered with a stone jacket reinforced with clay, made of medium-sized fieldstones. Similar construction traces were uncovered in excavations in the northern part of the stronghold. Due to the presence of the stone facing, no examination of the external part of the rampart was conducted. The placement of the stone jacket to strengthen the external slope of the rampart can be associated with another expansion of the fortifications. Presumably, wooden crates filled with sand were placed outside the rampart constructed with timber layers. This widened the base of the rampart, likely associated with raising its crown.

Z przeprowadzonych badań wynika, że jedno z koryt Prosny opływało gród od strony zachodniej i płynęło w pewnym okresie w bezpośredniej bliskości warowni. Badania wykopaliskowe przeprowadzone w latach 60-tych XX wieku, w południowej części grodziska, ujawniły jednak resztki konstrukcji południowego ciągu wału obronnego. Ich odkrywcy byli zdania, że pozostałości wału zostały rozebrane w okresie późniejszym, kiedy grodzisko przestało funkcjonować, jednak nie ma na to bezpośrednich dowodów. Przeprowadzone w 1960 roku badania archeologiczne tzw. ostrogi ujawniły ślady umocnień o konstrukcji przekładkowej. W ten sposób wzniesiono część wału znajdującą się po stronie skierowanej do wnętrza grodu. Podobna technika wznoszenia fortyfikacji drewniano ziemnych została zaobserwowana w przypadku wału grodu plemiennego oraz kolejnego obiektu datowanego na okres X/XI wieku. Fragmenty takich konstrukcji obronnych odsłonięto w wykopach archeologicznych w północnej części grodu.

Profile of the rampart – layers exposed during research (IAE PAN archives)

Observing the layers recorded during the excavations allowed for the reconstruction of the rampart’s crown. It appears that a row of wooden crates filled with sand was placed on top. These crates were burned, and their remains scattered on both the external and internal sides of the rampart base. Analysis of the excavation results suggests that we can observe at least two phases of expansion of these fortifications dating back to the 10th and 11th/12th centuries.

 

Dariusz Wyczółkowski

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