The Early Piast Stronghold at Grzybowo
Information about the origins of Polish statehood are based on legends which are vividly described by the historian Dlugosz. These might carry some grains of truth, yet one can hardly view them with credibility, when reading the story of King Popiel devoured by mice. Dlugosz names ten kings preceeding the Piasts. Of great (and perhaps topical) interest seems the story about a period of Interregnum, when "Magnates abolished the Monarchy and elected 12 men of high moral standard and perception. These soon became hated by a people accustomed to neither equality nor freedom. Because obedience and strict behaviour grew rare among Poles. They ceased to obey orders, the people frequently blamed and accused their leaders as if, ignoring their country, they cared for their own benefit and comfort alone and violated established laws." Anarchy ensued and "they had to return to monarchy due to popular resentment, rebellions, murder and bloodshed." Some historians assume on grounds of various legends that the Popiels reigned more or less until 850 AD, to be followed by the Piasts. They name Chociszek, Ziemowit, Leszek, Ziemomysl, and finally Mieszko. Historically confirmed is, however, only the information pertaining to Mieszeko; these originate from various Czech sources, a Bavarian geographer and Ibrahim Ibn Jacob.
It is ignored who and when did unite the numerous Slav tribes that inhabited Wielkopolska at that time. That particular ruler built or else conquered a few dozen smaller strongholds and a few larger ones, of which the largest is located near the village of Grzybowo situated between Wrzesnia and Gniezno. It is located on the left bank of the Struga River, bordered by wet meadow lands which formed a marsh once upon a time. The stronghold is shaped like a rectangle with circular corners. The inner area equals 2.2 hectares, while the whole stronghold - 4.7 hectares. Even today the defence walls equal a height of 8 meters. These were built of oak beams filled with earth. (about 300,000 beams in total) to a height of 16 meters. Outside the walls a 15 meter wide moat was excavated to prevent access to the stronghold, while two gates and probably a draw-bridge provided an entrance. In the course of time all the beams rotted and the walls settled down to their present height. A gigantic effort in those times, a feat that only a powerful ruler could undertake with a few thousand workmen.
The Grzybowo stronghold cannot be traced on any written documents. Yet its imposing dimensions and location in the vicinity of Gniezno, Giecz, and Ostrow Lednicki might suggest that it played a vital role during consolidation of Polish statehood. A definition of that role is the main object of archaeological research started in 1989 on my initiative. The stronghold was situated on our family estates and was regarded as Swedish trenches. I did some initial excavations in 1937 and proved that the stronghold dates to the 10th century. I published my findings in the archeological publication of the Poznan University "From the Abyss of Ages" in 1938.
Research is now carried out by Mariusz Tuszynski MA, under the scientific guide of Prof. Zofia Kunatowska of the polish Academy of Sciences with the cooperation of the archeological commission of the Poznan Friends of Science Society, while it is financed by the Brzeski Foundation.
The research showed that we are dealing with an object of exceptional scientific interest. It includes not merely the excellently preserved stronghold, but some revealing natural material, dendrochronological particularly, allowing us to establish the date down to a year. The oak construction is extremely well preserved in sub-surface water which reached 2 to 3 meters underground. The oldest construction material is a wide board of oak which started growing in the year 300 and was cut down circa 800. The uncovered beams at the bottom of the large wall date back to the year 923. The most recent trunks date from the mid-11th century, but these are in very poor condition, as all the timber above 2 meters rotted.
Numerous (about 14,000) items and varied movable objects depicting various means of livelihood, including many items of luxury - all these add to our knowledge about the material culture of the inhabitants of central Wielkopolska strongholds during the formation of the Polish statehood. We found many spinning wheels, needles made of bone, beads of semi-precious stones, horseshoes, iron rings from armoured jackets, scraps of leather with traces of sewing, bowls, wooden objects of daily use and one silver coin. It is hard to identify several iron objects as they are eroded by rust, yet several steel knives remained well preserved. We found dozens of thousands of shards which allowed us to piece together about 30 jars with nice ornamentation and interesting shapes.
Another frequent discovery are animal, mostly pig bones. But we uncovered the skeleton of a horse between the moat and the walls which were destroyed by fire in that particular spot. Perhaps an enemy jumped over the moat on horseback and set fire to the wall with a torch. We dug out several primitive huts with indoor hearths. Over one of the latter we discovered a pot containing pork bones. A cow shed with well preserved and still pungent dung, a smithy with an anvil together with a piece of pig iron - were another point of great interest.
According to up-to-date research, the Grzybowo stronghold was constructed by several stages in a complicated manner. The inner area, now leveled and tilled, originally varied topographically. The walls encircled dips in the terrain and a small pond still in existence. Research indicated many remains of some leveling works conducted in the 10th century, as well as some unexpected remains of some leveled wall with well preserved wooden structures that divided the inner area in two.
It is hard to determine when was the Grzybowo stronghold first constructed. The huge 16-metre high walls could have been an original extension of the original stronghold, and had possibly been erected by Mieszko I’s grandfather or father. The oak beams used are derived from oak trees cut circa 930 AD. Since the stronghold was so immense and preceded Gniezno, it may be assumed that it was the first capital of the Piast State . Should we discover yet the prince’s residence and cemetery, we hope to confirm that theory.
Dr. O.W. Brzeski Montreal, QuebecDr. Olgierd Brzeski