> Biskupin is an archaeological site and a life-size model of a late Bronze Age fortified settlement in north-central Poland that also serves as an archaeological open-air museum.
> History of the excavations
>
> In 1933 Polish archaeologists discovered remains of a Bronze Age fort/settlement in Wielkopolska (Greater Poland) and the discovery became famous overnight. The site was excavated from 1934 onwards by the team from Poznań University, led by archaeologists Józef Kostrzewski (1885–1969) and Zdzisław Rajewski (1907–1974). The first report was published in 1936. By the beginning of 1939, ca. 2,500 m2 (26,909.78 sq ft) had been excavated. Biskupin soon became famous, attracting numerous distinguished guests, including officials of the Marshal Piłsudski government, members of the military, and high churchmen such as the primate of Poland. The site soon became part of Polish national consciousness, the symbol of achievements of the Slavonic forebears in prehistoric times. It was called the “Polish Pompeii” or “Polish Herculaneum”. The existence of a prehistoric fortress, 70 km (43 mi) from the German border, was used to show that the prehistoric “Poles” had held their own against foreign invaders and plunderers as early as the late Bronze Age. Biskupin came to feature in paintings and popular novels.
>
> When the Germans occupied Poland in the autumn of 1939, Biskupin was renamed “Urstädt”. In 1940, excavations were resumed by the SS-Ahnenerbe until 1942. When the Germans were forced to retreat they flooded the site hoping to destroy it, but—ironically—it led to very good preservation of the ancient timbers. Excavations were resumed by Polish archaeologists after the war and continued until 1974.
> The site
> View inside the settlement
> Reconstructed settlement
>
> There are two settlement periods at Biskupin, which was located in the middle of a lake but is now situated on a peninsula, that follow each other without a break. Both settlements were laid out on a rectangular grid with eleven streets that are three metres (9.8 ft) wide. The older settlement from the late Bronze Age was established on a slightly wet island of over 2 hectares (4.9 acres)[2] and consisted of ca. 100 oak and pine log-houses that were of similar layout, measuring ca. 8 by 10 metres (26 by 33 feet) each. They consisted of two chambers and an open entrance-area. These houses were designed to accommodate 10–12 persons. An open hearth was located in the centre of the biggest room. There are no larger houses that could indicate social stratification. Because of the damp, boggy ground the streets were covered with wooden planks.
>
> The settlement was surrounded by a tall wooden wall, or palisade, set on a rampart made up of both wood and earth. The rampart was constructed of oak trunks that form boxes filled with earth. The rampart is more than 450 metres (1,480 feet) long and accompanied by a wooden breakwater in the lake. 6,000 to 8,000 cubic metres (210,000 to 280,000 cubic feet) of wood was used in the construction of the rampart.
> Dating
>
> The settlement at Biskupin belongs to the Hallstatt C and D periods (late Bronze Age/early Iron Age, 800–650 BC and 650–475 BC). There are four Radiocarbon dates from Biskupin (all B.C.):
>
> First settlement: 720±150 (Gif 494)
> Later settlement: 560±150 (Gif 495)
> Rampart: 620 ±150 (Gif 492)
> A2 4C, VII: 620±150 (Gif 493)
>
> However, dendrochronological analysis provided more accurate dating. It proved that oak wood used in the construction of the settlement was cut down between 747–722 B.C. Over half of the wood used was cut during the winter of 748/747 B.C.[3][4]
> The model
> Interior of the Archaeological Museum next to the reconstructed settlement
>
> In 1936 the first life-size model (open-air museum) was built on the peninsula, but it was intentionally destroyed by retreating Germans near the end of World War II. After the war it was rebuilt, and the ramparts and one full street with houses on both sides were also added.
>
finally we can wage old wars and don’t have to make new ones
Pretty cool place. There’s not an awful lot of stuff there, but it’s definitely a neat look at the past.
At least it was when I was there *checks notes* shit 10 years ago.
Was there as a kid. Very cool place.
However, I am scared to go back.
I pulled out one straw from a thatchery on one of the houses and it kinda all fell down.
I pretended I don’t know what happened and run away. Since then, I am scared they will arrest me upon entering…
For some context, uncovering a lost city with defensice walls in this part of the world was a really big deal. Most places like this rotted away or are burried deep under medieval and later settlements.
How would that fare against a zombie horde?
I wonder how much of this replica is guess work and how much has been determined from the remains of the fort?
I’ve been there as a child, as I was born in a city near it. I was below 10 years old, but I have some vivid memories of the place. It was really really cool. You do get this feeling of the distant past.
I moved quite far away not long after that so I haven’t been there since, but I definitely want to visit again, now as an adult.
10 comments
[More info on wikipedia.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biskupin)
> Biskupin is an archaeological site and a life-size model of a late Bronze Age fortified settlement in north-central Poland that also serves as an archaeological open-air museum.
> History of the excavations
>
> In 1933 Polish archaeologists discovered remains of a Bronze Age fort/settlement in Wielkopolska (Greater Poland) and the discovery became famous overnight. The site was excavated from 1934 onwards by the team from Poznań University, led by archaeologists Józef Kostrzewski (1885–1969) and Zdzisław Rajewski (1907–1974). The first report was published in 1936. By the beginning of 1939, ca. 2,500 m2 (26,909.78 sq ft) had been excavated. Biskupin soon became famous, attracting numerous distinguished guests, including officials of the Marshal Piłsudski government, members of the military, and high churchmen such as the primate of Poland. The site soon became part of Polish national consciousness, the symbol of achievements of the Slavonic forebears in prehistoric times. It was called the “Polish Pompeii” or “Polish Herculaneum”. The existence of a prehistoric fortress, 70 km (43 mi) from the German border, was used to show that the prehistoric “Poles” had held their own against foreign invaders and plunderers as early as the late Bronze Age. Biskupin came to feature in paintings and popular novels.
>
> When the Germans occupied Poland in the autumn of 1939, Biskupin was renamed “Urstädt”. In 1940, excavations were resumed by the SS-Ahnenerbe until 1942. When the Germans were forced to retreat they flooded the site hoping to destroy it, but—ironically—it led to very good preservation of the ancient timbers. Excavations were resumed by Polish archaeologists after the war and continued until 1974.
> The site
> View inside the settlement
> Reconstructed settlement
>
> There are two settlement periods at Biskupin, which was located in the middle of a lake but is now situated on a peninsula, that follow each other without a break. Both settlements were laid out on a rectangular grid with eleven streets that are three metres (9.8 ft) wide. The older settlement from the late Bronze Age was established on a slightly wet island of over 2 hectares (4.9 acres)[2] and consisted of ca. 100 oak and pine log-houses that were of similar layout, measuring ca. 8 by 10 metres (26 by 33 feet) each. They consisted of two chambers and an open entrance-area. These houses were designed to accommodate 10–12 persons. An open hearth was located in the centre of the biggest room. There are no larger houses that could indicate social stratification. Because of the damp, boggy ground the streets were covered with wooden planks.
>
> The settlement was surrounded by a tall wooden wall, or palisade, set on a rampart made up of both wood and earth. The rampart was constructed of oak trunks that form boxes filled with earth. The rampart is more than 450 metres (1,480 feet) long and accompanied by a wooden breakwater in the lake. 6,000 to 8,000 cubic metres (210,000 to 280,000 cubic feet) of wood was used in the construction of the rampart.
> Dating
>
> The settlement at Biskupin belongs to the Hallstatt C and D periods (late Bronze Age/early Iron Age, 800–650 BC and 650–475 BC). There are four Radiocarbon dates from Biskupin (all B.C.):
>
> First settlement: 720±150 (Gif 494)
> Later settlement: 560±150 (Gif 495)
> Rampart: 620 ±150 (Gif 492)
> A2 4C, VII: 620±150 (Gif 493)
>
> However, dendrochronological analysis provided more accurate dating. It proved that oak wood used in the construction of the settlement was cut down between 747–722 B.C. Over half of the wood used was cut during the winter of 748/747 B.C.[3][4]
> The model
> Interior of the Archaeological Museum next to the reconstructed settlement
>
> In 1936 the first life-size model (open-air museum) was built on the peninsula, but it was intentionally destroyed by retreating Germans near the end of World War II. After the war it was rebuilt, and the ramparts and one full street with houses on both sides were also added.
>
[Video about the site.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1oqga-LWck)
Looks more wooden than bronze but ok.
finally we can wage old wars and don’t have to make new ones
Pretty cool place. There’s not an awful lot of stuff there, but it’s definitely a neat look at the past.
At least it was when I was there *checks notes* shit 10 years ago.
Was there as a kid. Very cool place.
However, I am scared to go back.
I pulled out one straw from a thatchery on one of the houses and it kinda all fell down.
I pretended I don’t know what happened and run away. Since then, I am scared they will arrest me upon entering…
For some context, uncovering a lost city with defensice walls in this part of the world was a really big deal. Most places like this rotted away or are burried deep under medieval and later settlements.
How would that fare against a zombie horde?
I wonder how much of this replica is guess work and how much has been determined from the remains of the fort?
I’ve been there as a child, as I was born in a city near it. I was below 10 years old, but I have some vivid memories of the place. It was really really cool. You do get this feeling of the distant past.
I moved quite far away not long after that so I haven’t been there since, but I definitely want to visit again, now as an adult.
Wooden castle ?