Search for a bridge from Poland's first ruling dynasty era

The Museum of the First Piasts at Lednica has been carrying out excavation research at Ledniczka - the second-largest island at Lake Lednica. Located in its central and southern parts are earthworks identified as a conical hillfort. As a result of research carried out in 1989-1990, it's been established that the stronghold could have been a seat or local rulers at the turn of 14th and 15th century.

31 years after finishing the last research, archeologists have returned to Ledniczka to examine remains outside the hillfort (so far only the earthworks have been examined).

"Underwater exploration here at Lake Lednica has been going on for a few years now. Archeologists from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń managed to uncover remains of a bridge, actually two bridges that once connected Ledniczka with the western side of the lake," said dr Andrzej Kowalczyk from the Museum of the Firsts Piasts at Lednica.

Dating between the 10th and the turn of 13th and 14th century, the bridges reveal a previously unknown, yet very important role of the island in the Lednica settlement. This discovery has inspired trial trenching in the area.

"Our main goal is to reveal abutments of the bridges which are being examined under water. We also want to determine how human and animal activity, as well as water level rise, have affected what is hidden beneath the ground," dr Kowalczyk said.

The researchers have focused on the northern, yet unexamined part of the island. "We want to find out the scale of valuable remains of some kind of settlement," Andrzej Kowalczyk explains.

During exploration of the central-northern part of the island remains of a stone pavement has been discovered, but its function and chronology require further examination. Research of the western side revealed a fragments of medieval coastal fortifications.

Fragments of clay pottery, animal bones, as well as various wooden, leather and metal items have also been found. Particularly interesting is a medieval hatchet with well-preserved wooden handle.

Furthermore, samples of timber, laths, pickets and clippings - used during construction of bridges and coastline - have been secured for specialised analysis. Also botanical and dendrological samples have been taken.

Detailed analyses of materials found during the excavation are to help to determine this island's function and relation to Ostrów Lednicki, considered a very important centre of the First Piasts' Poland and later eras.

The researchers examining seats of the First Piasts say disputes regarding the status of Poland's first capital are pointless, as the country's first ruling dynasty did not have just one capital. They travelled between the main settlements which had palatiums. Therefore, Mieszko I most likely resided equally in Poznań, Gniezno and Ostrów Lednicki.