Biskupin: An Early Iron Age Village in Western Poland

Extract

The village of Biskupin is situated in the northern part of Great Poland, six miles from Znin, 65 miles to the northeast of Poznan and to the southwest of Torufi, the capital of Polish Pomerania. Nowadays it is famous, not only in Poland but throughout the world, for the remarkable discoveries made in its vicinity by the Poznari University Archaeological Expedition. Excavations have been carried on for four years, and have revealed the ground plan of a prehistoric stronghold which was built on a peninsula jutting into the lake of Biskupin, on the surface of a former peat-bog, in the Early Iron Age, between 700 and 400 B.C. but abandoned in consequence of its inundation by the waters of the lake. The site was covered with a thick deposit of sand and mud, which protected the remains against atmospheric influences, while the dampness of the ground caused the preservation in excellent condition of the lower portions of the huts and the wooden defensive works, as well as the roads and breakwaters.