Archaeologists discovered “Warminskie Pompeii” of the fourteenth century … – Gazeta.pl

Polish-German group conducts archaeological research project led by Dr. Arkadiusz Koperkiewicz of the University of Gdańsk and Felix Biermann from the University of Göttingen. Alt Wartenburg settlement, inhabited by settlers from Silesia, was located near present Barczewka. It was located between the lake and the river Wadąg Nutcracker, approx. 5 km from Barczewo today. Settlement was destroyed during the invasion of the Duke Kestutis in the middle of the fourteenth century.

The project started from the sky

Archaeologists preparing to search for settlement, applied modern methods. They agreed location with among others aerial photos, which you can see the changes in shape layers of earth.

– We found what we expected based on historical sources. After performing aerial photographs and geophysical surveys were expecting the burnt remains of the city in 1354. We had a specific location trenches and began to explore the area, which we are interested – says Dr. Arkadiusz Koperkiewicz.

– found the remains of two buildings just outside the gate, and in the central part of the trench, which was the main building in the settlement , a town hall, church or the creation of defense, or zip – said the scientist.

spindle whorls help

He added that the buildings have dimensions of 4×4 meters at the base; pointed out that they are planned and executed in the same way, with entrances to the basement. Were built of wood and clay, and the basement had stone foundations. – We found a lot of sights, for example. Ceramics – the so-called gray, waged on the wheel, different from the one manufactured by local Prussians. We came across a bronze ornaments, buckles on belts, spur, spindle whorls weaving, padlock, key Gothic crossbow bolts and caves, as well as bite-sided coin “- said Dr. Koperkiewicz.

This is a coin allow archaeologists to determine dating of sediments.

People have not found

– Remains of people not found. Even if there was a tragic events, this area is not completely depopulated, a few years later established the current Barczewo, much of the population still lived here, probably their loved ones have made somewhere in the nearby cemetery – said the scientist.

Project Name provocative

Motion search Barczewo first location bears the name “Warmia Pompeii.” – This provocative invented name; know what are the Pompeii archeology. Here is a similar situation that some sudden event caused historically documented that we have a well-preserved structure of one of the oldest towns in the area. This is a perfect place for archaeologists, because you can watch “in a nutshell” stopped time – said Dr. Koperkiewicz.

He recalled that the second half of the fourteenth century was a very hot time in the area. This was the beginning of the trial conquest of Lithuania by the Teutonic Knights, Rejz, or armed expeditions Teutonic Knights in Lithuania and Lithuanians raids into the Teutonic Order.