The settlement complex in Jeziorko is located in the western part of Masurian Lake District, around 3 km north-west from the main road between the towns of Ryn and Giżycko. The site has been widely known since the 17th c. and presumed as one of the most important hillforts of the Early Iron Age and the Middle Ages. The current state of research allows us to qualify it as one of the best examined archaeological sites in central parts of Masurian Lake District. The discussed settlement consists of three main parts. The top of the hill surrounded by ramparts appears to be a main defensive area. on the eastern side, Settlement I covers the characteristic lower part of the hill and it extends to the south where Settlement II is situated. During the 2009 season Settlement I was excavated. Within documented deposits the most interesting finds have been discovered in layers dated back to the early stages of the Early Iron Age. The most characteristic seem to be over a dozen of bronze ornament manufacturing remains together with casting moulds suggesting the existence of a local jewellery workshop. Equally important finds have been recorded within the structures from later phases of the Early Iron Age. Among them we can distinguish vari- ous pottery remains, a bronze spiral ring and iron pins considered to be the traces of influences of the neighbouring Pomeranian and Jastorf Cultures. According to presented research results it can be concluded that the site played a key role in cultural development of the West Balt Barrow Culture in Masurian Lake District being on the one hand one of the largest settlements and on the other hand the trade and production centre.
The presented archaeological site is located on a small island on Lake Święte in the south-eastern part of Olsztyn Lake District between the villages of Kurki and Swaderki in the territory of a local landscape park. The mentioned island covers the area of not more than 800 m2 and reaches the highest point of 2 meters above the water table. Archaeological finds were recorded there in 2007 during the survey undertaken by the team of archaeologists from the local society of “Pruthenia.” Encouraged by these discoveries researchers conducted sequentially in 2007 and 2008 topographic and underwater surveys. Finally preliminary excavations yielded many pottery remains as well as flint, bone and antler tools. Those fruitful results persuaded the archaeologists from the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Warsaw to get back on the island in 2010. During the ex- cavations various interesting deposits and finds were recorded. Among them we can distinguish fragments of pottery, bones and antler remains accompanied by many stone and flint tools dated back widely from the Late Neolithic until the Early Iron Age. A recent analysis allows to conclude that the discussed site is a typical seasonal settlement, naturally defensive and water-related. It was occasionally occupied by the habitants representing the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze (Ząbie-Szestno Type) and the West Balt Barrow Culture cultural model.
Site IX is located on an island on Lake Legińskie, about 1 km north of the village of Łężany and about 2 km south of the village of Leginy. The island is uplifted to a height of about 5 m a.s.l. and its surface measures about 6000 m2. The archaeological site was discovered during the field survey in April 2011. About 200 pieces of pottery were found on the ground and between the roots of fallen trees. In July and August of the same year the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Warsaw conducted the excavations. Undertaken study on the island aimed to clarify the chronology and function of the site. During excava¬tion work eight soundings of a total of about 150 m2 were established and seven archeological features and remains of cultural layers were found. All features in the study area are the remains of trash and storage pits or hearths, not associated with any residues that may indicate the presence of production features or traces of residence. From layers and features fragments of pottery, fragments of animal bone and isolated finds were obtained, which include: metal, flint, stone, clay and the most interesting finding of one complete earring and fragments of a necklace made of bronze. Preliminary analysis of pottery and other artefacts allows to distinguish two chronological groups. The most of them are characteristic to the West Balt Barrow Culture and can be dated to Phase III ofthis culture. The other, small group of ceramics is typical of the Early Middle Ages and the Late Middle Ages.
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