The text revolves around the use of lake isles by Western Slavs and Western Balts in the North European Plain in the early Middle Ages. The main goal of this article is to collect, discuss and analyse early medieval written sources that provide information about the locations’ forms and functions among old communities. This process has resulted in a picture of the various uses of isles by Slavs (and, to a small extent, by the Balts) which may serve as the starting point for an analysis of archaeological sources.
Abstract: In the second half of the 20th century during archaeological excavations in the area of the Old Town in Wolin were discovered remains of two features which stood out against the background of wooden structures characteristic of this centre in the early Middle Ages, dated to the second half of the 9th century and the 10th-11th century which were interpreted as pagan temples. As a result of later reinterpretation of sources the hypothesis of functioning in Wolin pagan cult focused around the two temples was negated. According to the author of this text the analysis of available source base does not seem to give rise to such an unequivocal interpretation and rejection of earlier findings.
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