Excavations at a lately discovered castle tower continue

Heavy equipment was needed to start the excavations of the so-called Ice Tower that was discovered in the Książ Castle, south-western Poland, in June. The forgotten structure reveals new mysteries each day.

Excavations at the Ice Tower of Książ Castle (by Jacek Zych & Dziennik Wałbrzych)
Excavations at the Ice Tower of Książ Castle (by Jacek Zych & Dziennik Wałbrzych)

Remains of the Ice Tower were discovered earlier this year when a structure, thought to have been used for ice storage was accidentally found at the depth of a few meters. What was initially considered a few-metres-long corridor of a basement was recently revealed as the inner space of a 4.5-metre-wide tower.

Excavations at the Ice Tower of Książ Castle (by Jacek Zych & Dziennik Wałbrzych)
Excavations at the Ice Tower of Książ Castle (by Jacek Zych & Dziennik Wałbrzych)

The excavations with use of a mechanical digger and hoist revealed pieces of wooden beams under initial metres. Under the beams a second level of the tower was discovered. So far no bottom was found, but the nature of the fill-in changes. First few metres consisted of rubble and dirt, below which sharply chiselled stones were found, possibly originating in the mines located under the castle. Below them, at a depth of 5-8 metres even older material seems to be located, in form of compacted rocks.

Excavations at the Ice Tower of Książ Castle (by Jacek Zych & Dziennik Wałbrzych)
Excavations at the Ice Tower of Książ Castle (by Jacek Zych & Dziennik Wałbrzych)

At the depth of 6 metres traces of a portal were discovered, indicating presence of a corridor, but it faces a solid rock – potentially indicating planned expansion of the underground. The excavations are now conducted manually with the rocks being hoisted up from the pit. Currently the dig reached the depth of 10 metres.

(after Dziennik Wałbrzych)

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