Archeological excavation Bakaláře
Recent reconstruction of the pavement at Bakaláře area in Písek (2008-2009) caused an archaeological excavation by the Archaeological Department of Prácheň Museum in Písek, and it led to many important discoveries.
The basic document for ground excavation was the so-called Imperial Stabile Cadastre of 1837, and an archival plan from 1855-1857. Both these sources depict number of perished objects (both medieval and early modern), which were indentified during the excavation.
Fortification lines, namely the main City Wall, founded approximately in 13th Century, and the so called Parkan-Wall, which is dated a bit later (15th Century, its construction probably coinsided with the emergence of fire weapons), were discovered. From mediaeval and early modern objects in the western part of this area, the foundations of Renaissance School were discovered. Its character is known from abovementioned mapping sources, and from detailed plan of front and lateral views, executed before the school's demolition in 1857.
Also foundations of the secondary objects, along the main City Fortification, were documented, and further two wells, one reaching the depth of 7,5 m. Dating of this well goes to 14th Century. Also the foundation of early modern fountain was discovered.
In the southern and western part of Bakaláře area, the mass-grave was rediscovered, first traces of which were discovered in 2006. Its dating goes probably to the Thirty-Years War (1618-1648).
Entirely surprising were discoveries of prehistoric age. First of all, five urn-graves from the so-called Knovíz-Culture (aprox. 13th-12th Century B.C.) were localized, and three stone chambers of Tumuli graves, dated to the Middle Bronze Age (approx. 15th Century B.C.). Originally the tumuli were composed of stone chambers with remnants of the deceased, and contained funeral artifacts, and all these were finally covered by soil eartwork. Till today only tiny residues of chambers and of artifacts were preserved. From prehistoric graves, samples for paleobotanical, and anthropological analyses were taken.
In the chamber of the tumulus Nr. I were discovered: complete bronze armring, one similar armring in fragments, long bronze needle with spiral ending, for fastening the overcoat, bronze ring with two spirals, bronze discs from the belt, and from the wetement, further pottery fragments from funeral provisions, a number of organic remnants, and several bones of the buried woman. All the artifacts were in very a bad shape, because of aggresive chemism in the area. Subsequently, all the artifacts went through demanding conservation at the specialised laboratory, at the Museum of the Capital City of Prague.
Tumuli and urn-graves are only a fragment of original and probably much larger prehistoric necropolis, where burials spaned several centuries. It is evident, that its location above the meander of Otava river was suitable for activities of sacral character in the long past. The destruction of this necropolis was probably caused by founding the city of Písek, in the 13th Century, by construction of the present church at the spot, and by surounding buildings, and by medieval burials. Probably then the soil earthwork of the tumuli was removed, and on many spots of this space many of pottery fragments from the Bronze Age were collected. Further changes came in modern period, and slow destruction of praehistoric situations continued during the 20th Century.
One of the stone chambers (tumulus Nr. II) was preserved on the spot, along with copies of bronze jewellery from tumulus Nr. I., made by Mr. Jiří Smíšek (Museum of the Capital City of Prague).
The case of tumuli, located at the very centre of the historical core of the town, has no paralels in the Czech Republic, and in the Cental European context it is a very rare occurence.
Mgr. Jaroslav Jiřík, Bc. Martin Pták, Bc. Tereza Šálková
File date: 28.5.2009
