Discover the Forgotten Life of Knights in Lower Silesia
Everyday life and war at medieval castles in Bardo and Gniewoszów evidenced by archaeological excavation objects
A model of Bardo Castle (2005) by Anna GąsiorCity Museum of Wrocław
Castles
The castles that flourished in Middle Ages in the Lower Silesia, were built to set control over the territory.
They were housing the knights and clergy elite members, who led their everyday lives within the walls, temporally fulfilling military functions.
With the political changes their role was being reduced, leading most of them to the ruin and consigning to oblivion.
The only witnesses to past glories were the ruins, giving rise to later locally recounted legends.
Bardo Castle
The castle in Bardo was located in the Bardzkie Mountains, on the steep slope of Kalwaria Moutain. It was built around the mid-14th century as an initiative of the sons of Duke Bolko I - Bernard or his brother Bolko II of Ziębice.
The fortress guarded the border
and served as a place to collect tolls. It was destroyed during the Hussite Wars and has never been rebuilt since. The destruction was completed by an earthquake. After these events, the castle was gradually being disassembled to obtain building materials from the ruins.
Only the cellars and foundations of the building have survived to this day, but when archaeological excavations were planned on the site, it was not yet known what was hidden in the soil.
Archaeological research at Bardo Castle
Archaeological research began in 1982 and lasted 10 years. During this time, archaeologists Czesław Francke and Jerzy Lodowski managed to survey about 2/3 of the castle area. More than 50,000 artefacts were excavated during the archaeological investigations.
Thanks to the archaeological excavations
...carried out at the castle in Bardo, it was possible to establish that it consisted of an upper castle, on the plan of an irregular oval surrounded by a thick wall. In the courtyard, in the eastern part, there was a tower.
In the north-west corner were the residential and utility buildings. To the south of the upper castle was a sub-castle with only wooden buildings. Both parts of the castle were connected by a wooden bridge.
"Szczerba" Castle
The other famous castle "Szczerba", near Gniewoszów, was located on an elevation of 500 metres above sea level. It consisted of an oval courtyard with a tower and a residential building with a heating system in the type of an ancient hypocaustum.
Few written sources survived about the "Szczerba" castle
The oldest certain information comes from the end of the 14th century and refers to the then owner of the estate, Otto Schuler. This castle, shared a similar fate to the fortress in Bardo, as it was destroyed during the Hussite wars and remains in ruins to this day.
"Szczerba" castle (1988) by Czesław FranckeCity Museum of Wrocław
The castle was built from slightly processed stone
with the inner court surrounded by irregular wall, which survived even up to 9 meters. The wall had a gate and gateway. The whole was surrounded by a ditch. In the remains of the buildings inside the walls, the relics of the vaulted rooms of the lower castle floor are visible.
Amphora from the castle (15th century AD) by unknownCity Museum of Wrocław
Finds
Ceramic and glass vessels fragments were the most common finds. Some of the vessels were later painstakingly reconstructed from dozens of fragments by conservators at the Archaeological Museum.
Miniature amphora vessel (15th century AD) by unknownCity Museum of Wrocław
The small amphora could be medicine or cosmetics container.
Fragments of a clay crossbow target (15th century AD) by unknownCity Museum of Wrocław
Numerous objects made of iron were found
These are mainly objects related to the military function of the building, i.e. equestrian equipment and weapons.
Crossbow shooting was practised at Gniewoszów Castle by aiming at a clay target. Large fragments of it have survived, with the arrowheads of the crossbow bolts stuck in it to this day.
Elements of the body armour (brigandine) (15th century AD) by unknownCity Museum of Wrocław
Protective equipment was the brigandine armour, consisting of small iron pieces joined together with rivets.
Armour of this type was made of a leather jacket to which iron plates were attached, making it both flexible , lightweight and also fulfilling well the function of protection against injury.
Horseman's pick and battle axe (15th century AD) by unknownCity Museum of Wrocław
Personal weapons at this time may have been swords and peasant knives.
The infantry's weapons were also horseman's picks and battle axes.
The two objects – horseman's pick and battle axe, presented at the Archaeological Museum, are richly decorated with copper alloy inlays.
They are dated to the 15th century. They were probably lost or abandoned on the battlefield during the Hussite Wars, in the siege of Silesian castles
Equestrian equipment consisted of stirrups, into which the feet of the rider were placed, bridles, i.e. devices that helped to direct the horse, scrapers for cleaning the horse and spurs. In the 15th century, the spurs usually had a rowel in the shape of a multi-pointed star.
The rowel (15th century AD) by unknownCity Museum of Wrocław
In the 14th century artillery weapons first appeared in Europe and such stone balls were used as projectiles for cannons.
A ceramic lamp (15th century AD) by unknownCity Museum of Wrocław
The living conditions were rather rough and modest, but the castle rooms were illuminated in various manners.
A small ceramic olive lamp, used as portable source of light, has survived intact, wearing only traces of fire burning inside.
"Szczerba" castle - hypocaustum (1988) by Czesław FranckeCity Museum of Wrocław
However, the castle in Gniewoszów was a relatively advanced
building for its time, as it was equipped with two types of heating devices, namely a tiled oven and a Hypocaustum type furnace.
The latter type of heating system was known already in ancient Rome. Its basic principle was to distribute hot air from a furnace located under the floor.
There have also been discovered artefacts that provide evidence of a rich knightly culture that flourished in places such as Gniewoszów or Bardo Castles. These include game pieces made from bones and dice. Among the most popular games were the mill and trick-track. The castles also resonated with music, as evidenced by the instruments found.
Belt strap end fittings (15th century AD) by unknownCity Museum of Wrocław
The decorative fittings on the ends of belts are also connected with the knightly culture.
They were often decorated with symbols referring to the saint patron of chivalry – Virgin Mary, such as the openwork lily or the letter 'M'.
A knife with a handle in anthropomorphic shape (14th century AD) by unknownCity Museum of Wrocław
A luxurious knife with a handle in the shape of a man in a hood, perhaps a monk, draws everybody’s attention.
Among the artefacts were also ceramic figurines
in the shape of knights and ladies in courtly attire. Such small sculptures are considered to be children's play objects.
Toy knights and lady (15th century AD) by unknownCity Museum of Wrocław
These archaeological objects
...are only the part of historical adventure, that You can experience in the City Museum of Wroclaw. Dive in the Museum’s collections and discover the secrets of the past of Silesia!
These archaeological objects are only the part of historical adventure, that You can experience in the City Museum of Wroclaw. Dive in the Museum’s collections and discover the secrets of the past of Silesia!
Agata Macionczyk
