Archaeologists have discovered 15 prehistoric defensive fortified settlements dating back to the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age in southeastern Poland.
Until recently, it was known about 20 such settlements found in Poland. However, research in the Małopolskie Voivodeship showed that there were much more ancient "fortresses" in this area. This is reported by Science in Poland.
These are mainly fortified settlements that arose in the agricultural region between the Vistula and Odra rivers in the period from the sixth to the third millennia BC. The most "young" were created at the beginning of the second millennium BC, but they are extremely rare.
“If earlier we knew about 20 Neolithic settlements, then only in the last year we discovered fifteen more in the north of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship,” says archaeologist Marcin M. Przybyla. "Some of them covered more than 20 hectares."
For example, one of these "fortresses" was discovered on the banks of the Shreniava River, which is a tributary of the Vistula. The defensive settlement of the early period had earthen and wooden fortifications and a moat. In this respect, it resembled medieval castles.
In some cases, fortifications were limited to the construction of a stockade. According to scientists, the presence of this type of settlement indicates a high level of organization of the ancient society and, possibly, the presence of developed power structures.
And the large number of "fortresses" indicates periods of growing tension between various groups of the population living in a state of heightened danger and militarization.
Probably the peak of the hostile relationship was around 4000 BC, 3000 BC. and 1600 BC.
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