On the outskirts of Prague, archaeologists uncover a unique building from the Stone Age • TechFocus.cz
The scope of research work in the field is absolutely unique / Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague
A monumental building from the Stone Age, the so-called roundel, has been studied by scientists in Prague-Vinoř since July. The research of the circular architecture, almost seven thousand years old, has so far demonstrated exceptionally well-preserved remains and an unusual outline with three entrances.
Unique there is also the extent of the fieldwork: archaeologists will gradually uncover the structure in almost its entirety. About 200 rondels, monumental circular structures with a diameter of 30 to 220 m, are known in Europe.
Their shape and size resemble, for example, the world-famous Stonehenge, but they are roughly 1,500 years older. “The wine roundel has a diameter of 55 m and is unusual in its layout, because it is one of the few that has three entrances,” says the head of field research Miroslav Kraus from Archaeological Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech RepublicPrague.
In addition, the scientists were also surprised by the completely preserved remains of palisade grooves, into which the central wooden structure was originally embedded. “Usually, only the remains of a ditch or even several ditches are found, which originally surrounded the central part of the roundel with a wooden structure. The preserved three grooves are to a large extent a surprise to us, because the original terrain has changed significantly in the last seven thousand years,” the archaeologist began.
The scope of research work in the field is absolutely unique. Apartment buildings are being built on the field near Vinoř, so it will be possible to explore almost the entire roundel. “I estimate that we will get to about 90% of the total floor plan, this is an extraordinary opportunity for archaeology. In Europe, only around ten roundels have been discovered in this way,” explains Jaroslav Řídký from the Prague Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, who has been dealing with the topic of roundels for a long time.
A discovery from the 80s
Rondel in Vinoř was discovered in the 1980s during the construction of utility networks. Scientists had the opportunity to examine a small part during the next rescue research ten years later. The interdisciplinary survey then continued with geophysical measurements of the overall shape of the buildings and their immediate surroundings.
According to the results so far, it is known that it is a construction of a circular plan with a diameter of around 55 m, which consists of one ditch with a pointed bottom and three circular grooves in a space enclosed by a ditch. There are three entrances to the center of the building, emphasized by the extension of the ditch outwards from the area – oriented to the north, southwest and southeast.
A mystery from 7,000 years ago
There are long-standing disputes about the original shape of the roundels. It is known, however, that inside stood a stilt structure anchored in grooves, surrounded by one to a maximum of four trenches. On the outer side of the ditch or ditches, there was a high probability of placing a rampart made of excavated material.
There were two, three, but most often four entrances to the center (exceptionally, five and six). “If two entrances are documented, they are in the east and west direction from the center of the roundel, in the case of four entrances, they are more or less towards the cardinal directions,” explains Jaroslav Řídký.
All currently known rondels date, according to the radiocarbon method of dated objects found in ditches, to the period 4850–4700/4600 BC and have been documented in the environment of several archaeological cultures. They are therefore the oldest special (monumental) buildings in Europe.
Rondel in Vinoř is important in that its scientists are systematically examining almost the entire area, and it will be possible to take samples for dating and other natural science analyzes from various parts of the original structures. We also know from previous salvage research that there is a housing estate inhabited for at least 300-400 years in the northeast direction from the roundel. We know other similarly dated housing estates within a radius of five kilometers.
Source: Archaeological Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic