4000-year-old house discovered along bronze and amber artefacts

A monumental house with a stone foundation containing bronze artefacts and an object made of amber was discovered at Maszkowice, southern Poland. The house, belonging to a larger settlement, dates back 4000 years.

Aerial view of the excavations (by Marcin S. Przybyła)
Aerial view of the excavations (by Marcin S. Przybyła)

During this season of excavations archaeologists discovered the unique monumental structure and surrounding houses sheltered by strong stone wall, being the possibly oldest fortification ever found in Poland. The large stone house was standing in row with five other structures constructed of wood. According to the experts the monumental building’s construction is similar to modern highland houses, with a strong stone foundation holding a wooden construction made from whole timbers.

Reconstruction of the settlement (by Marcin S. Przybyła)
Reconstruction of the settlement (by Marcin S. Przybyła)

Within the house archaeologists discovered melted pieces of bronze and just one whole object made of this metal – a bronze pin. Among other finds was also a large bead of amber from the Baltic Sea. Archaeologists state that these finds provide evidence for potential active participation of the inhabitants in trade between the Baltic zone and the Mediterranean one. The fortified settlement in Maszkowice was located by a Carpathian pass on the route linking North with South. The settlement is believed to have been abandoned around 1550-1500 BC after a period of over 250 years of functioning. No signs of destruction were found, although traces of a large fire are attested to the middle of the period of settlement, after which the wooden buildings were rebuilt in an even larger scale.

(after Nauka w Polsce & Marcin S. Przybyła)

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