Maciej Trzeciecki

The text is dedicated to the question of traditions and innovations in post-medieval pottery manufactured and used in the territory of today’s Mazovia and Podlachia in Poland. It focuses on the distribution of waregroups in the assemblages from selected sites dated to the mid-16th – late 18th centuries. The list includes both capital cities in the province (Warsaw, Płock) and local towns (Ciechanów, Płońsk, Przasnysz), as well as royal and aristocratic residences, gentry manors and villages. Among the most characteristic features worthy of note are the long lasting of early medieval manufacturing traditions, the widespreaduse of greyware, the relatively small proportion of whiteware and glazed vessels, as well as the sporadic (excluding Warsaw) occurrence of fineware (porcelain, faience). The analysis points to the specificity of Mazovian pottery in 16th–18th centuries, in relation to both other Polish lands and our notions on trends in pottery manufacture and use in the post-mediev...

Osada kultury trzcinieckiej Obiekty związane z osadnictwem kultury trzcinieckiej koncentrują się we wschodniej części badanego obszaru. Dominują doły posłupowe, z których większość wystąpiła w logicznie powiązanych układach, pozwalających rekonstruować zarysy dwóch prostokątnych budynków. Odkrytą w całości pozostałością pierwszego z nich jest przede wszystkim nieckowata w przekroju, owalna jama, oznaczona jako obiekt 3, której towarzyszyło osiemnaście dołów posłupowych o średnicy ok. 0,14–0,15 m i podobnej głębokości. Na podstawie rozmieszczenia dołów zrekonstruowano budynek o planie zbliżonym do prostokąta i wymiarach ok. 3,50 × 5,00 m, w części północno-wschodniej lekko zagłębiony w ziemię, zorientowany względem osi północny zachód – południowy wschód (ryc. 3: 1, 2). Zwraca uwagę koncentracja dołów posłupowych wzdłuż północno-wschodniej ściany budynku, wobec zaledwie dwóch znajdujących się po stronie przeciwległej. Można stąd wnioskować, że ściana północno-wschodnia, jako zacienio...

Obiekt 123 – duża jama o kształcie czworokątnym i wymiarach ok. 4 × 4,5 m, z dołączonym od strony północnej korytarzykiem o długości ok. 4 m i szerokości 2 m (ryc. 9–11; 19: 1). Głębokość głównej części obiektu dochodziła do ok. 1,2 m i wypłycała się łagodnie w stronę północną (w korytarzyku). Na głębokości ok. 0,7–0,3 m zachowane były pozostałości spalonej drewnianej ściany (js. 126, 128, 129). Zachowało się zwęglone lico konstrukcji z belek, których pierwotna grubość wynosiła zapewne (jak można sądzić z nieco innego zabarwienia warstwy) ok. 0,2 m. Ustawione one były w czworobok z otworem skierowanym na północ, w stronę korytarzyka. Wymiary wewnętrzne ograniczone konstrukcją drewnianą wynosiły odpowiednio 3,4 m po osi północ – południe i 3,2 m po osi wschód – zachód, zaś szerokość otworu wejściowego dochodziła do 1,6 m. Konstrukcja drewniana wstawiona była we wkopaną w ziemię jamę o lekko ukośnych ściankach, miejscami zbliżonych do pionowych. W połowie wypełniska obiektu znajdowały...

Pelagonia — a large valley in the southern part of Macedonia — is one of the most important settlement centers in this part of the Balkans with a concentration of approximately 80 Neolithic tells, so far very poorly recognized. In 2013 the archaeological reconnaissance, the magnetic and topographic prospection have been carried out, with focus on the Central Pelagonia — the Mogila, Trn, Karamani and Dobromiri villages. Survey aimed at mapping, documenting and magnetic prospection of the sites selected by the following criteria: accessibility for surveying, visible land form suitable for Digital Elevation Modeling and state of archaeological research. The magnetic prospection gave a quick insight into the tells` organizational patterns. Together with precise positioning within RTK mode and Digital Elevation Models (DEM) it made a framework for the future presentation and processing of research results. The 2013 survey revealed the first images of the Neolithic tells in Macedonia. The...

The appearance of greyware vessels is a material constituent of profound civilization changes that took place in central and Eastern Europe on the eve of the Late Middle Ages. Successively, their decline symbolically closes the medieval period. Pottery assemblages from the border zone between Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania do not correspond to this image. Although greyware vessels appear here even in the Late Middle Ages, they become commonplace in the 16th–18th century. New technical qualities
from the Late Middle Ages forms a distinct stylistic field, with grey tableware decorated with burnishing being one of the most characteristic attributes. Despite the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, the tradition of the production and use of vessels fired in a reducing atmosphere has survived up to the present day.

Maciej Trzeciecki, Post-mediaeval kitchenware/Nowożytne naczynia kuchenne z badań na placu Zamkowym w Warszawie, [in:] Z. Polak, K. Meyza (eds) Między miastem a dworem. Badania archeologiczne placu Zamkowego w Warszawie w latach 1977-1983. Część 1. Warszawa 2017, 253-352

The subject of analysis is the set of 43372 sherds of clay pottery dated to the period from the middle of the 16th to the early 19th century. The analysis concerns solely vessels made of the so-called ordinary clays. The set comes from various stratigraphic contexts, including the infill of the city moat, the burgher houses, the area of the Cracow Gate and structures in the Castle Square itself. The relatively high percentage of considerably fragmented sherds indicates that the overall state of preservation of this set is rather poor. However, the clear preponderance of sherds showing the second grade of ceramic erosion and the concurrent marginal percentage of very damaged sherds indicate that the range of post-deposition processes was small.
The set is dominated by whiteware, with the proportion of ca. 52%. Second is redware, ca. 35%. The percentage of greyware slightly exceeds 11%. Semi-faience vessels constitute about 0.5% of the set. The percentage of brownware does not exceed 0.3%. Preponderant among the ascertained types of vessels are pots (ca. 70%). The second largest group are bowls (ca. 9%). Sherds of plates constitute less than 5% and the percentage of jug sherds is ca. 4%. The percentage of mugs, pans and covers is similar (3–4%). Sherds of urinals, flasks, miniature vessels and crucibles were noted only sporadically.
The material for the production of brownware were iron-rich clays tempered with crushed granite. The technique used in forming these vessels was coiling. The most frequent type are pots with a distinctly bulbous body and a short moulded lip.
The set of greyware consists of almost 68% of pots, ca. 10% of jugs, lids and bowls, whereas the other functional groups (plates, mugs, pans, a crucible and a heat suction cups) are represented by single vessels. The vessels are mostly formed with the help of slide-band technique; some are wheel-thrown, but their percentage is marginal. The total of 33 lip types was ascertained. Among those, 16 types represent lips of pots, 4 – lips of jugs, 8 – lips of bowls and pans, 1 – edges of plates, 4 – edges of lids. Most vessels are undecorated (ca. 80%). The most often ascertained decorations are  burnished motifs or incised encircling grooves.
The set of redware vessels is dominated by pots (61%); relatively frequent are also bowls (18%), lids (6%), plates (5%), jugs, mugs and pans (ca. 3% each). Less frequent are miniature vessels and urinals (ca. 0.5% each). Flasks, elongated pans and ceramic money-boxes are single finds. The percentage of wheel-thrown vessels is ca. 8.5%. Almost 69% of vessels were glazed. The total of 40 lip types was ascertained. Among those, 16 types represent lips of pots, 4 – lips of jugs and some mugs, 12 – lips of bowls, pans, elongated pans and urinals, 4 – edges of plates, 4 – edges of lids. Most vessels are undecorated (86%). The most often ascertained motifs are encircling grooves; imprints of a stamping roller and polished decorations are more rare.
The set of whiteware is dominated by pots (81%). Pans (6%), plates (4%), mugs and jugs (3-4%) are also frequent. Less frequent are bowls (1%), lids (0.6%) and miniature vessels (0.2%), whereas flasks and crucibles are single finds. The percentage of wheel-thrown vessels is 18% altogether. Almost 94% of whiteware vessels were glazed. The total of 31 lip types was ascertained. Among those, 11 types represent lips of pots and mugs, 4 – lips of jugs, flasks, miniature vessels and a crucible , 10 – lips of bowls and pans, 4 – edges of plates, 2 – edges of lids. Most vessels are undecorated (79%). The most often ascertained motifs are encircling grooves, often paired with imprints of a stamping roller or with painted motifs.
The set of semi-faience vessels is dominated by plates; bowls, jugs, single finds of urinals and mugs, as well as a baking form were also noted. The vessels were mostly wheel-thrown. The surfaces of all of them are covered with an opaque white glaze. The total of 11 lip types was ascertained. The vessels were undecorated.
A comparison of the co-occurrence of basic technological and stylistic features makes it possible to define three “pottery-related” phases in the chronology of this set. In Phase I, dated to between the middle of the 16th and the middle of the 17th century, the late-medieval characteristics are gradually becoming obsolete; these include the negligible percentage of brownware, the relatively high percentage of greyware (up to 20%), and the recurrence of decorations made by  burnishing with the tendency towards combining this technique with imprints of a stamping roller or encircling grooves.
Phase II can be dated to between the middle of the 17th and the middle of the 18th century. Brownware disappears from the set, while the percentage of greyware markedly decreases, to less than 10%. Over 50% of the set consists of mostly glazed whiteware and the first semi-faience vessels make an appearance. The percentage of wheel-thrown vessels increases to 11%. The set of decorative patterns grows more limited;  burnished motifs are mostly replaced by combinations of strips of encircling grooves and imprints of a stamping roller.
Phase III can be dated to between the middle of the 18th and the early 19th century. No marked changes are observable, but it seems symptomatic that the repertoires of vessel forms, lip shapes and decorative motifs were growing increasingly limited. The percentage of greyware continued to decrease, while the percentage of semi-faience wares increased, although only slightly. The set continues to be dominated by glazed whiteware; the percentage of glazed redware clearly increases and towards the very end of Phase III this ware group seems to dominate.
The structure of the set obtained from the moat indicates that the process of its systematic filling began after the middle of the 16th century and was completed before the middle of the 18th century at the latest.

Maciej Trzeciecki, Late-mediaeval pottery/Ceramika późnośrdniowieczna z badań na placu zamkowym w Warszawie, [in:] Z. Polak, K. Meyza (eds) Między miastem a dworem. Badania archeologiczne placu Zamkowego w Warszawie w latach 1977-1983. Część 1, Warszawa 2017, 215-252.

The subject of analysis is the set of 2975 sherds of clay pottery obtained during archaeological excavations conducted in the area of Castle Square in Warsaw in the years 1977–1983. The set comes from various stratigraphic contexts, including the infill of the city moat, the area between the defensive walls, and the square itself. Intensive construction in the area caused the often considerable disruption of late-medieval strata.
The set is dominated by greyware, with the proportion of ca. 84%. Second isredware, ca. 9%. The percentage of brownware slightly exceeds 5.5%, and whiteware  is ca. 1%. One shard of a stoneware vessel was recorded. The set consists mostly of sherds of pots (ca. 80%); the percentage of jugs is 14%. The percentages of bowls (ca. 2%), covers and mugs (ca. 1%) are notable; the percentages of the sherds of pans, plates, crucibles and miniatures are marginal.
The set of vessel sherds obtained from untouched original contexts constitutes ca. 71% of the total; sherds obtained from modern-era contexts constitute ca. 20%; there are no available data for ca. 9%. The fact that the percentage of considerably fragmented sherds is large indicates the set’s poor state of preservation. The fact that the percentage of very damaged sherds is marginal indicates that the range of post-deposition processes was small. It was ascertained that there were no material differences between the level of fragmentation and erosion of sherds derived from original contexts and from secondary deposits. Differences between the type composition and the state of preservation of the sets of sherds derived from original contexts located outside (the moat, the area between defensive walls) and inside the city fortifications are clearly visible.
The group of brownware vessels from the set under analysis is homogeneous with regard to essential technological and formal features. The basic material for their production were iron-rich clays with an admixture of crushed granite. Physical features of clay mass correspond to the only recorded technique of forming these vessels, i.e. coiling. The set of vessels consisting of pots and a small number of bowls is not very diversified. The lips of pots have predominantly thick moulded rims. It is worth noting that the percentage of decorated vessels is very low and that the range of decorative motifs is exceptionally small, as it is limited to encircling grooves.
Greyware vessels are the most diverse group in terms of essential technological and formal features. It consists mostly of cooking vessels: pots, lids, most of the bowls and a small number of pans. Tableware is represented by jugs, bowls, mugs and plates. All vessels are formed with the help of slide-band technique; the quality of firing can be considered satisfactory. Greyware pots were predominantly bulbous in shape, with more or less clearly defined neck. The set of bowls includes bulbous ones with a flared upper section and ones without a distinct lip. Jugs most probably had bulbous bodies and a slender, well-defined neck. Over 75% of pots have lips with a so-called eave or with a half-coil rim. The average percentage of decorated vessels does not exceed 10%. Burnished decorations are particularly distinctive. Decoration by burnishing the entire surface or adding vertical stripes and lines is most often seen on jugs and mugs; similar motifs are also found on pots. A separate group are complex decorations made by means of a deeply impressed square stamp, arranged in chequered patterns.
The small group of  redware vessels is relatively homogeneous with regard to functional, technological and formal features. Ca. 90% of them are cooking vessels, mainly pots. The small set of tableware is represented by jugs and plates. Glaze has been discerned on only a few pots. The forms of  redware are analogous to those of greyware. Lips with a half-coil rim seem to be particularly typical of redware pots. The percentage of decorated vessels is low. The set under analysis also contains a small number of pots made of clay which acquired a white colour when fired. The technological features of the shard of stoneware jug make it possible to identify its origin as the Rhenish town of Siegburg.
The structure of types, technological features and the stylistics of their forms and decorations indicate that vessels from the discussed set seem to be typical of both Warsaw and other Mazovian towns in the period between the middle of the 14th and the middle of the 16th century.

Maciej Trzeciecki, Zbigniew Polak, Towns in the Duchy of Masovia – an archaeologist’s perspective/Miasta na Mazowszu książęcym - spojrzenie archeologów, [in:] J. grabowski, R. Mroczek, P. Mrozowski (eds) Dziedzictwo książąt mazowieckich. Stan badań i postulaty badawcze. Warszawa 2017, 199-220.

The issues relating to the establishment of towns are ones that have given rise to
controversy among researchers, and have sometimes been outside their area of
expertise. This is because the foundation of towns was seen as the culmination
of several centuries of consistent development. Mediaeval Masovia is a prime ex-
ample of this, where the elements of an old social order were to evolve slowly and
in an orderly manner.
The results of excavations undertaken for more than fifty years in Masovian
towns and cities present us with a different picture. In the case of each of the
centres discussed in this article, there is no direct connection between the newly-
established towns and the spatial or social structures of the pre-location period.
Examples of towns established on the site of an earlier settlement are relatively
rare, and the general rule seems to have been to choose a location that was previ-
ously unoccupied, most often close to the local seat of authority. The results of
excavation work confirm the use of a new spatial model—a chequered layout of
quadrilateral built-up areas divided into standardized parcels of land with a market
square in the centre.
An analysis of the material relics of the day-to-day life of the town’s inhabit-
ants—remnants of buildings and ceramics—provides us with data indicating there
was a vast difference between the inhabitants’ material culture and local models.
In newly established towns nearly all the buildings seem to have been based on a
skeletal frame. Among the clay vessels there are no products alluding to the local
style; their forms are in keeping with those made in central Germany and the in
state of the Teutonic Order.
The results of archaeological research unequivocally indicate that Masovia’s en-
try into the orbit of the ‘urban’ civilization of mediaeval Europe, which took place
in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, was of a revolutionary character for the
social structure of this area.

Maciej Trzeciecki, Space organization and housing of Castle Hill in Czersk: the 11th-14th centuries/Organizacja przestrzeni i zabudowa Wzgórza Zamkowego: XI-XIV w. {in:} P. Urbańczyk, M. Trzeciecki (eds.) Czersk, Wzgórze Zamkowe. Badania 1974-1983. Warszawa 2016 [Origines Polonorum 10].

The text presents changes in the space organization of the Castle Hill in Czersk in the period between the mid-11th c. and starting the construction of the masonry castle at the end of the 14th c. For the purposes of this study, re-analysis of the field documentation from research of 1974-1983 excavations was carried out. It allowed for distinguishing a total of 176 structures representing the relics of houses and outbuildings from phases III-XIII. Log buildings make the most numerous group. Archaeological data concerning the alleged stronghold church are discussed separately. The analysis indirectly indicates the possibility of existence of an
older masonry building in this place, which may be erected as far back as the 12th c. However, there are no data necessary to reconstruct its form. In the summary, a proposal for a different interpretation of functional changes of the early medieval settlement on Castle Hill is presented. The possibility of dating the oldest early medieval features at the mid-11th c. and disputability of distinguishing the “pre-stronghold” phase were pointed out. Also, there are no grounds for dating the stronghold rebuilding (phase XII) at the period before the beginning of the 14th c. Finally, the settlement base of Czersk stronghold is briefly presented.

M. Trzeciecki. 2017. Płock, Czersk and Radom – the “millennial” studies and verification research. “Przegląd Archeologiczny” 65, 225-239

Archaeological research in Płock, Radom and Czersk was connected with a project carried out to honour the Millennium of the Polish State. This paper presents the results of the millennial studies as well as recent verification research that allowed to correct the dating of the beginnings of the settlement complexes. It also verified the vision of vast „early urban settlements” adjacent to strongholds that appeared as a result of the millennial studies. Settlement complexes in Płock, Radom and Czersk can be defined as typical mid-level early Piast centres of power that were developing from the early11th century and were replaced in 14th century by castles and incorporated towns.

M. Trzeciecki 2016. "The emergence of the territorial state", in P. Urbańczyk, M. Trzeciecki (eds), "The Past Societies. Polish lands from the first evidence of human presence to the early middle ages", vol. 5: 500 AD – 1000 AD, 257-306. Warsaw, The Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences

The present work offers an overview of the key issues in the study of the emergence of state structures in Polish territory between the beginning of the 10th century and the middle of the 11th century. The introduction outlines the history of research and describes its current state. Particular emphasis is placed on issues related to the so-called millennium research program and its impact on contemporary trends and areas of study. The development of the territorial state is demonstrated using the example of the changes in the structure, form and function of defensive sites. The article also presents a brief description of early-Piast central strongholds and an outline of the process of the emergence of a network of central sites in the territories controlled by the Piast monarchy. The development of early state structures is closely linked with the adoption of Christianity. The present work discusses issues related to the archeologically discernible evidence of Christianisation, namely sacral buildings, changes in burial customs and items associated with liturgy or individual worship. The conclusion points to the small (both territorially and socially) scale of religious conversion and the close links between the early Church and the structures of the state.

The 13th c. was a turning point in the history of Mazovia (Mazowsze).
In a longer perspective, the political events as well as
social and economic processes that took place at the time occurred
to be decisive for the future history of the province. The
reign of Konrad I, which spanned almost the whole first half of
the 13th c., was a period of prosperity. The 1262 Lithuanian raid
brought about a demographic catastrophe and a temporary collapse
of administrative structures. The main sources of knowledge
about political history of Mazovia at that time are chronicles.
Reconstructing settlement network, forms of social life and
cultural patterns, on the other hand, belongs to the domain of
archaeology. However, the period in question remains beyond
the scope of interest of archaeologists, who concentrate more on
the beginnings of the early Middle Ages or the establishment of
the structures of the Polish state.
The analysis of data available in publications allows for revealing
the potential of research issues concerning the discussed period.
In this paper it is demonstrated through the study into the
structures of spatial organization in both macro-scale (covering
the whole region) and micro-scale (analysed on the basis of
several selected central settlements). An attempt to demonstrate
the dynamics of changes concerning spatial organization is
based here on the analysis of development of stronghold centre
networks. Prior to the beginning of 13th c. the most outstanding
in terms the number of strongholds was Płock region, with the
seat of the ruler and the diocese. The remaining area of Mazovia
was characterised by scattered settlement clusters sometimes
accompanied by fortified settlements. The fundamental change
that took place over the 13th c. was the construction of a network
of strongholds in the region south-west off the middle Vistula.
The transformations in settlement patterns are linked with
Mazovia’s early urbanisation. The analysis of spatial structures
in better recognised centres (Płock, Czersk, Pułtusk, Błonie) reveals
that hardly any of them would meet the “early urban” criteria.
Płock, whose position both within the region and within the
whole kingdom was special, stands as the only exception. It seems
that in the 13th c. Mazovia there was no need for the functioning
of centres with characteristics of early towns. The role of political
and administrative centres was performed by strongholds
backed by small village settlements, self-sustaining and requiring
no large investments. The actual process of urbanisation began
after 1300, following the granting of the city foundation charter
to Warsaw. It would appear, however, that this belatedness did not
resulted from Mazovia’s “long-time” backwardness but from the
region’s specific political and economic conditions.