Using geophysical survey as a tool for resolving issues of the structure of the built‐up area of the early medieval centre at Pohansko near Břeclav, Czech Republic. Issue 4 (18th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Prišťáková, Michaela; Milo, Peter
• Is Part Of: Archaeological prospection. Volume 28:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 405
• Page End: 417
• Publication Date: 2021-01-18
• Subjects: density analysis -- early medieval centre -- geophysical data interpretation -- magnetic survey -- settlement structure -- spatial analysis; Archaeology -- Field work -- Periodicals; Prospecting -- Periodicals; 930.1028
• DOI: 10.1002/arp.1811
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1075-2196

Abstract

Abstract: Early medieval strongholds are a significant phenomenon in the archaeology of East Central Europe, as they mirror the political and socio‐economic changes occurring towards the end of the Early Middle Ages. This contribution is concerned with the site of Břeclav‐Pohansko (Czech Republic), which graphically illustrates the rise and fall of the Moravian principality during its short existence from the second half of the 9th to the beginning of the 10th century. The site has been systematically excavated over more than 60 years. The excavation work has been accompanied by numerous geophysical surveys. Based on comparing previous knowledge of settlement on the site and the results of magnetic prospection, we evaluated similarities and differences in the central district of the stronghold using statistics and spatial analysis. Upon analysis of the success rate of the applied geophysical method, we present the resulting model of the settlement structure. The results confirm that the structure of the built‐up area in the central district at Pohansko follows an original pattern which has no analogues in the Central Danubian region in the given period.