Mariusz Wyczółkowski
1983-1988: Studies of Christian Archaeology at the Academy of Catholic Theology (presently Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University) in Warsaw (Poland)
1987-1991: assistant and then lecturer at the Museum in Ciechanów (Poland), Departament of Archeology
Since 1991: curator at the Museum in Kętrzyn (Poland), Departament of Archaeology
Main Research Theme: Changes of settlement patterns in Prussia from the late Migration Period to the Medieval Period
Main Research Fields: Archeology of early medieval Prussians, Early Medieval and Medieval Pottery, Archeology of Medieval Town, Archaeological Survey, Archeology of Settlement, Ritual and Sacrifice in Archaeology
Research visits:
2001 Russia, Kaliningrad Oblast - archives, museum collections, survey of archaeological sites
2003 Russia, Kaliningrad, Museum - collections and archival materials from the Early Middle Ages and Viking Period, survey of archaeological sites from the Early Middle Ages and Viking Period
Completed Research Projects:
Full documentation and verification survey of medieval defense systems on formerly Bartia (AZP 13-70, 13-71), 2007, co-financed by Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
Early medieval place of worship in Poganowo, site IV, distr. Ketrzyn (Warmia-Masuria Province) - studies and analysis (geodesy, archaeozoology, petrography), 2007-2008, co-financed by Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
New methods of archaeological verification survey on forest areas [with LIDAR], 2011, co-financed by Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
Ongoing Research Projects:
Poganowo, site IV – center of early medieval Prussian settlement
Teutonic Castle in Kętrzyn – phases and techniques of construction, everyday life of inhabitants.
Landscape of early medieval Prussian settlements. Ecology of settlement complex in Poganowo, site 4 - 2012-2014 project will be found by the National Science Centre.
The project aims is to identify and investigate natural determinants of settlement and changes in the environment connected with settlement on the territories inhabited in the early Middle Ages by the Prussians. The place to carry out interdisciplinary research of archaeological landscape is settlement complex in Poganowo, site 4. The result of archaeological research will be reconstruction of relationship between man and the natural environment, identification of community adaptation strategies, identification of environmental resources available to them and how they are used.
The result of environmental research will be reconstruction of natural environment in the micro-region, characteristics of environmental factors, which functioned settlement as well as forms and strength of anthropopressure, causing the transformation of the environment.
The final effect will be, Poland's first, model of environmental determinants of early medieval prussian settlement, reconstruction of archaeological landscapes together with changes related to the settlement pattern processes in the environment.
The use of palaeoecological methods, will complement existing conclusions of historians and archaeologists. This will help to more accurately describe the dynamics of change of settlement patterns, taking into account issues, such as the type of economy, changes in intensity of human pressure and their connection with the settlement patern facts resulting from archaeological researches and from written sources.
Other activities:
Since 2006 – co-organisation of Medieval Fair of St James in Kętrzyn (end of July)
1987-1991: assistant and then lecturer at the Museum in Ciechanów (Poland), Departament of Archeology
Since 1991: curator at the Museum in Kętrzyn (Poland), Departament of Archaeology
Main Research Theme: Changes of settlement patterns in Prussia from the late Migration Period to the Medieval Period
Main Research Fields: Archeology of early medieval Prussians, Early Medieval and Medieval Pottery, Archeology of Medieval Town, Archaeological Survey, Archeology of Settlement, Ritual and Sacrifice in Archaeology
Research visits:
2001 Russia, Kaliningrad Oblast - archives, museum collections, survey of archaeological sites
2003 Russia, Kaliningrad, Museum - collections and archival materials from the Early Middle Ages and Viking Period, survey of archaeological sites from the Early Middle Ages and Viking Period
Completed Research Projects:
Full documentation and verification survey of medieval defense systems on formerly Bartia (AZP 13-70, 13-71), 2007, co-financed by Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
Early medieval place of worship in Poganowo, site IV, distr. Ketrzyn (Warmia-Masuria Province) - studies and analysis (geodesy, archaeozoology, petrography), 2007-2008, co-financed by Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
New methods of archaeological verification survey on forest areas [with LIDAR], 2011, co-financed by Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
Ongoing Research Projects:
Poganowo, site IV – center of early medieval Prussian settlement
Teutonic Castle in Kętrzyn – phases and techniques of construction, everyday life of inhabitants.
Landscape of early medieval Prussian settlements. Ecology of settlement complex in Poganowo, site 4 - 2012-2014 project will be found by the National Science Centre.
The project aims is to identify and investigate natural determinants of settlement and changes in the environment connected with settlement on the territories inhabited in the early Middle Ages by the Prussians. The place to carry out interdisciplinary research of archaeological landscape is settlement complex in Poganowo, site 4. The result of archaeological research will be reconstruction of relationship between man and the natural environment, identification of community adaptation strategies, identification of environmental resources available to them and how they are used.
The result of environmental research will be reconstruction of natural environment in the micro-region, characteristics of environmental factors, which functioned settlement as well as forms and strength of anthropopressure, causing the transformation of the environment.
The final effect will be, Poland's first, model of environmental determinants of early medieval prussian settlement, reconstruction of archaeological landscapes together with changes related to the settlement pattern processes in the environment.
The use of palaeoecological methods, will complement existing conclusions of historians and archaeologists. This will help to more accurately describe the dynamics of change of settlement patterns, taking into account issues, such as the type of economy, changes in intensity of human pressure and their connection with the settlement patern facts resulting from archaeological researches and from written sources.
Other activities:
Since 2006 – co-organisation of Medieval Fair of St James in Kętrzyn (end of July)
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Papers by Mariusz Wyczółkowski
Both pollen analysis and radiocarbon dating indicate that bottom layers of the analyzed sediments were accumulated in the Late Glacial (Allerød and Younger Dryas) and at the beginning of the Holocene (the Preboreal). In the examined profile there can be found a hiatus covering the Boreal, Atlantic and Subboreal. The next sedimentation started in the Subatlantic.
In a pollen diagram from the upper Subatlantic part of the profile, 6 local pollen assemblage zones were distinguished. This allowed us to distinguish six phases of vegetation changes in direct vicinity of Poganowo settlement complex. In phase 1 there dominated thick forests, divided into a few types (multi-species deciduous forests with dominating linden, riverine forests, alder forests, pine forests, mixed forests). The area of open communities was very small. The first settlement of those areas took place right after that phase. Radiocarbon dating, showing that it started 2140-1996 years BP., probably slightly rejuvenates it, as the archaeological data indicate that it should have ended at the beginning of III century B.C. Phases 2, 4 and 6 were connected with intensification of anthropogenic vegetation changes in the vicinity of Poganowo complex. Phase 2 fell on the first period of settlement, which was archaeologically dated back to III phase of the West Baltic Barrow Culture (III-I century B.C.). Deforestation of almost all types of forests, registered in the pollen record, was probably connected with logging for the purposes of settlement construction and/or to improve visibility in its foreground. In the deforested areas, there developed open assemblages and willow bushes. The deforestation did not last long, and it was probably only one-time event. Desisting from it caused that in the process of natural succession, secondary birch forests suddenly spread in the deforested areas. Phase 4 of vegetation changes in Poganowo region was connected with the second phase of settlement, falling on the Early Middle Ages (the end of 10th – the beginning of 12th century). At that time, there were destroyed mixed forests with linden and elm, which occupied the most fertile grounds. Spruce forests, secondary birch forests and alder forests were also exploited, but to a lesser extent. Some of the deforested areas were devoted to cultivation of cereal. There also developed meadows and/or pasturelands and ruderal assemblages. In phase 6 of forests development around Poganowo, there took place a considerable reconstruction of forest stands, expressed by sudden increase of spruce numbers, which – besides pine – became a dominant kind of tree in that area. That change was probably a result of forest economy in Prussia – starting from 17th-18th century, spruce was systematically planted in hornbeam and oak assemblages. Lead dating of the beginning of spreading spruce in the region of Poganowo indicates that this kind of forest economy started only around 1860. Development of planted spruce was considerably limited by acreage of such elements of those forests as hornbeam, linden, elm and hazel. There took place thinning of forest stands and spreading of open assemblages, usually, connected with a human activity (cultivation of cereal and rape or other plants of Brassicaceae family, ruderal assemblages, meadows and/or pasturelands). Their development was related to creation of a few villages and estates, orientated towards forest economy service, in close vicinity of Poganowo settlement complex. In phases 3 and 5 there took place natural regeneration of local forest stands, related to reduced intensity of human impact on environment in the periods between settlement phases in Poganowo complex. Phase 3 was characterized by progressive secondary succession of forest in the areas that were deforested in phase 2. There developed pine forests with aspen and hazel bushes. There took place reconstruction of alder forests, riverine forests and multi-species deciduous forests. In phase 5, in the most fertile habitats, linden - destroyed in phase 4 – was replaced by hornbeam, which is able to regenerate from root offshoots better than other trees. Some of post-agricultural areas were occupied by birch forests and pine forests.
We acknowledge financial support, provided by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education/ the Centre of National Science in Poland (DEC-2011/01/B/HS3/04167).
References
NOWAKIEWICZ T. 2006. Galindia in the Viking Age – New Shape of the Culture. W: M. Bertašius (ed.), Transformatio Mundi. The Transition from the Late Migration Period to the Early Viking Age in the East Baltic:161-172. Kaunas University of Technology Department of Philosophy and Cultural Science, Kaunas.
PROGRAM of Conference:
http://www.muzeum.ketrzyn.pl/pdf/program_konferencji.pdf
Friedrich von der Groeben (1645-1712) was a Prussian nobleman. He made a military career at the Polish court. He traveled as an envoy to the Khan in the Crimea and to the Sultan in Istanbul. He took part in the Battle of Vienna. After returning to Prussia, he created hereditary estates, which remained the property of the von der Groeben family until 1945.
The grave flag of Friedrich von der Groeben is a perfect example of art inspired by Prussian noble families and an example of interesting funeral rituals. Tomb banners served as epitaphs. First, they were performed in the Kingdom of Poland. Following the example of the Polish nobility, this custom was adopted in the funeral rites of the nobility in Prussia.
At the end of the 19th century, over 100 tomb banners were known from Prussia. Only 10 have survived to this day, of which 4 are in the collection of the museum in Kętrzyn.
At the beginning of the 14th century, the eastern part of the Teutonic Order was occupied by large forest areas called Grosse Wildnis - large wastelands. It was a border area, for many decades it had a negative impact on settlement. The colonization of the western part of the Mazury lake district began only since the mid-14th century. The analysis of historical documents (from the 14th century) and cartographic materials (from the end of the 16th century) allows us to follow the changes of settlement paterns taking place in this area. Already in the documents from the 14th century, we find informations about the forests granted by the Teutonic Order to use for inhabitants of cities and villages. In the studied area, the majority of forest complexes exist within the limits described in the 14th and 15th century grants.
The poster will present a spatial analysis of historical and cartographic sources of selected forest areas. Large-scale maps as well as more detailed ownership maps made from the 17th century will be used. The boundaries of forests, communication routes and the evolution of settlement forms will be analyzed. The results are the basis for field survey and for verification of the chronology of localized cultural landscape elements, including archaeological sites.