Archeologické rozhledy

Formation of Mesolithic hunting campsites

2026-08-04T18:21:31+00:00

The organisation of hunter-gatherer campsites and whether repetitive behaviour patterns are reflected in the cultural and functional context of archaeological sites remains an important issue in Mesolithic archaeology. We analysed the material from the Rydno and Wieliszew sites in Poland, using the refitting of flint artefacts, the identification of use-wear on tools, and their spatial analysis to deliver the reconstruction of socio-technical processes that affected the formation of flint assemblages. The results indicate that despite the similar function of the campsites at Rydno and Wieliszew, they differed in the use of natural resources. These results are discussed in a broad European context and compared with findings obtained elsewhere. The article highlights new opportunities for reinterpreting many previously studied Mesolithic sites, some of which are already recognised as archival collections. Such lithic collections have the potential for developing new theories and comparing them with findings derived from materials obtained using modern excavation methods. The research results show that studies based on thorough and detailed analysis contribute to a deeper understanding of the processes involved in the formation of Mesolithic sites through the identification and description of settlement structures, which also allows us to determine the spatial and even temporal relationships between them.

Digital spatial modelling for encampment localisation related to the Battle of Mohi (1241), Hungary

2026-08-04T18:21:30+00:00

The Battle of Mohi in 1241 was a major clash between the Kingdom of Hungary and the Mongols invading Europe. Recent research on the battle has increasingly refined our understanding of the events surrounding the confrontation. Although these studies build on a shared scholarly foundation, they rely on heterogeneous spatial datasets, as no unified GIS database is yet available. This limits the full use of tools such as Historical GIS (HGIS), which can integrate these heterogeneous datasets into a unified, archaeologically oriented database to facilitate analysis and interpretation. The present study introduces a high-resolution potential-mapping approach aimed at identifying the likely position of the Hungarian camp. The analysis integrates archaeological, military–historical, and relevant environmental data, weighted through the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), resulting in a five-meter-resolution potential map. The findings contribute to a more spatially grounded reconstruction of the battle and offer a methodological basis for future archaeological investigations.

Medieval grain from Křivoklát Castle in Central Bohemia

2026-08-04T18:21:28+00:00

As a crucial food staple, grain was stored in castles in medieval and Early Modern Bohemia in granaries or in sections of farm buildings designated and adapted for storage purposes. However, during periods of conflict, other spaces intended for different purposes were also occasionally used for storage. During research into the palace complex in the north-western part of Křivoklát Castle in Central Bohemia, a large find of burnt grain and other crops from the 1421 harvest was uncovered. The results of an archaeobotanical analysis provided a completely new perspective on the creation of emergency food supplies during times of conflict within the context of medieval castles, both in terms of the composition of these food supplies and their location on castle grounds.

Metallography of medieval mining tools from Bohemian-Moravian Highlands

2026-08-04T18:21:29+00:00

This study focuses on the technological examination of medieval mining chisels from the Bohemian–Moravian Highlands in the Czech Republic. The analysed artefacts originate from three silver-mining areas (Opatov, Čejkov, Utín) dated to the 13th and 14th centuries. Mining chisels belong among the most characteristic tools of underground extraction, yet their metallographic study has so far remained relatively limited. The presented research aims to contribute to a more detailed understanding of their manufacture, material composition and internal construction. Five chisels and a mallet of different sizes were selected to investigate potential technological variability. The selected assemblage includes both slender and robust chisels, allowing a comparison of technological choices in relation to tool size and presumed function. Full-length cross-sections were prepared to assess the composition of the bodies, points and striking heads, and to document forging procedures and applied heat treatment. Findings that individual chisels were adapted to the type of rock and work and that they were used not only for ore extraction but also for other mining activities expand our knowledge of toolmaking and offer new insights into technological approaches of medieval smiths working for mining communities in the Bohemian–Moravian Highlands.

New Approaches in Music Archaeology (ISGMA, Vienna, 17–21 November 2025)

2026-08-04T18:27:09+00:00

Editorial

2026-06-24T07:18:39+00:00

Jan Turek: První Evropané. Archeologie počátků evropské identity. Academia, Praha 2026.

2026-08-04T18:27:08+00:00