- Palacký University Olomouc
Faculty of Arts
Department of History
Na hradě 5
771 47 Olomouc
Czech Republic
Karel Nováček
Palacky University, Olomouc, Department of History, Faculty Member
- Early and Medieval Islamic Art and Architecture, Archaeology of Buildings, Monastic Archaeology, Medieval Islam, Romanesque architecture, Archaeological Site Formation Processes, and 33 moreMedieval Archaeology, Mesopotamian Archaeology, Built Environment in Middle Ages, Archaeological Method & Theory, Medieval Architecture, Archaeological Stratigraphy, Statistical Methods in Archaeology, Islamic Archaeology, Archaeometallurgy, Early Islamic Archaeology, Medieval History, Urban archaeology, Building archaeology, Historical memory and Identity studies, Social Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology, Islamic pottery, History of Ottoman Art and Architecture, Islamic Urbanism, Early and Classical Islamic History, Medieval Islamic History, Islamic' Architecture, Sasanian Archaeology, Ottoman Archaeology, Eastern Monasticism, Early monasticism, Nestorianism, Early Medieval Monasticism, Ayyubid history, Islamic shrines, Ottoman art and architecture, Nestorian Christianity, and Contemporary Musicedit
- MA in archaeology (Charles University in Prague, 1992), Ph.D. in the history of architecture and art (Czech Technical... moreMA in archaeology (Charles University in Prague, 1992), Ph.D. in the history of architecture and art (Czech Technical University in Prague, 2006). Currently a full-time professor (assoc. prof.) at Palacký University Olomouc. Specialized in medieval archaeology, particularly in the built environment, religion, landscape, urbanism, and social archaeology. Ongoing research projects in Iraqi Kurdistan (since 2006), North Iraq and the Czech Republic.
Principal projects:
- "Vita Activa" of a Benedictine monastery in the 12th–14th centuries: A case study of the social interactions in the Kladruby Abbey (Czech Science Foundation, 2004-2006);
- Arbil: Archaeology of the Urban Centre in Northern Mesopotamia (Czech Science Foundation, 2009-2010);
- A Model Restoration of the Premonstratensian Monastery at Teplá, a co-director of the archaeological part (2009-2015);
- The Medieval Urban Landscape in Northeastern Mesopotamia - MULINEM (Czech Science Foundation, 2013–2015);
- Monuments of Mosul in Danger (Strategie AV21 Programme, 2015-18);
- The Monastic settlement as a socio-economic phenomenon in early Islamic Northern Mesopotamia (Czech Science Foundation, 2018 - 2020)
Cooperation in other projects:
- Mission Archéologique Francaise Qasr Shemamok, Kurdistan Irakien (Université Lyon II et CRNS Paris, proff. Olivier Rouault and Maria Grazia Masetti-Rouault), 2012;
- Erbil Plain Archaeological Survey (EPAS, prof. Jason Ur, Harvard University), since 2013;
- Mission Archéologique Francaise du Gouvernorat de Soulaimaniah (MAFGS, Dr Jessica Giraud, IFPO), 2014;
- Archaeological Survey of Koya (ASK, Dr Cinzia Pappi, Freie Universität Berlin), since 2016edit
The book focuses on an understudied topic: the development, form, and function of cities in northern Iraq - historical Assyria - from the advent of Islam to the early 20th century, especially from the perspective of archaeology. Research... more
The book focuses on an understudied topic: the development, form, and function of cities in northern Iraq - historical Assyria - from the advent of Islam to the early 20th century, especially from the perspective of archaeology. Research on these issues is a priority for the Czech archaeological mission, which has been working in northern Iraq and Kurdistan since 2006. The latest phase of Assyrian cities and towns offers a fascinating story of prosperity and growth, which was the joint work of traditional Christian communities and the Caliphate, but also of deep decline due to climate change and social unrest. Traces of these processes can be revealed through exploration of deserted towns, but also beneath the surface of modern metropolises. From the methodological point of view, the investigation benefits from non-invasive archaeology and remote sensing methods.
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The book examines the destruction of the architectural heritage in Mosul perpetrated by Islamic State between 2014 and 2017. It identifies which structures were attacked, the ideological rationale behind the destruction, and the... more
The book examines the destruction of the architectural heritage in Mosul perpetrated by Islamic State between 2014 and 2017. It identifies which structures were attacked, the ideological rationale behind the destruction, and the significance of the lost monuments in the context of Mosul’s urban development and the architectural history of the Middle East. This methodologically innovative work fills an important gap in the study of both current radical movements and the medieval Islamic architecture of Northern Iraq.
Research Interests: Islamic Archaeology, Cultural Heritage, Heritage Studies, Urban History, Islamic Studies, and 8 moreConflict Archaeology, Islamic' Architecture, Medieval Islamic History, Salafism, Islamic art and architecture, Jihadism and Radical Islamism, Critical Heritage Studies, and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
More than fifteen sites of either confirmed or conjectured urban status existed between the 6th and 19th centuries in the particular region of northeastern Mesopotamia, bounded by the rivers Great Zāb, Little Zāb and Tigris. This present... more
More than fifteen sites of either confirmed or conjectured urban status existed between the 6th and 19th centuries in the particular region of northeastern Mesopotamia, bounded by the rivers Great Zāb, Little Zāb and Tigris. This present study concentrates on the investigation of this urban network. The archaeological substance of the deserted sites is mostly very well preserved in the relief of the arid steppe environment and can be excellently identified in satellite images of several types. The archaeological investigation of these settlements, augmented by a revised historical topography, offers a unique opportunity for the holistic study of the diversity, temporal dynamics and mutual relationships within the urban network that developed in the hinterland of Baghdad and Samarra, the two largest super-centres of the Old World.
This collective monograph puts together archaeological and historical data available for the individual sites, including analyses of pottery obtained by surface survey. The materially rich final report of the three-year project is supplemented by an interpretative chapter that focuses on detailed topographical comparisons of the sites, their landscape contexts, and the dynamics of the urban system within the framework of studies on Near-Eastern Islamic-period cities.
This collective monograph puts together archaeological and historical data available for the individual sites, including analyses of pottery obtained by surface survey. The materially rich final report of the three-year project is supplemented by an interpretative chapter that focuses on detailed topographical comparisons of the sites, their landscape contexts, and the dynamics of the urban system within the framework of studies on Near-Eastern Islamic-period cities.
Research Interests: Near Eastern Archaeology, Islamic Archaeology, Landscape Archaeology, Urbanism (Archaeology), Urban History, and 8 moreMesopotamian Archaeology, Medieval Archaeology, Remote sensing and GIS applications in Landscape Research, Urban archaeology, Early Islamic Archaeology, Early Islamic History, Islamic Urbanism, and Medieval Towns
Archéologie des Conflits / Archéologie en Conflit - Documenter la Destruction au Moyen-Orient et en Asie Centrale Archaeology of Conflict / Archaeology in Conflict - Documenting Destruction of Cultural Heritage in the Middle-East and... more
Archéologie des Conflits / Archéologie en Conflit - Documenter la Destruction au Moyen-Orient et en Asie Centrale
Archaeology of Conflict / Archaeology in Conflict - Documenting Destruction of Cultural Heritage in the Middle-East and Central Asia
Edited by Julie Bessenay-Prolonge, Jean-Jacques Herr, Mathilde Mura
Full HD pdf freely available on : https://rdorient.hypotheses.org/1030
Archaeology of Conflict / Archaeology in Conflict - Documenting Destruction of Cultural Heritage in the Middle-East and Central Asia
Edited by Julie Bessenay-Prolonge, Jean-Jacques Herr, Mathilde Mura
Full HD pdf freely available on : https://rdorient.hypotheses.org/1030
Research Interests: Middle East Studies, Conflict, Afghanistan, Lebanon, History of Museums, and 15 moreCultural Heritage Law, Conflict Archaeology, Yemen, World War II, Ancient Near East, Syria (Archaeology), Kurdistan, Military Archaeology, Algeria, Archaeology of destruction, French colonial Algeria, archaeology in Iraq, Gaza Strip, Lebanese Civil War, and Destruction of Cultural Heritage
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During the occupation of Mosul by ISIS, the entire group of large shrines constructed by Badr al-Din Lu’luʼ in the first half of the 13th century was deliberately demolished, together with other funerary architecture. Since there was a... more
During the occupation of Mosul by ISIS, the entire group of large shrines constructed by Badr al-Din Lu’luʼ in the first half of the 13th century was deliberately demolished, together with other funerary architecture. Since there was a lack of satisfactory survey and documentation for them, in our ex-post analysis of these structures we sought to consistently use a stratigraphic method and a broad temporal perspective, viewing the building artefact as a subject of continual development with a fluid change of meaning. The surviving documentation contradicts established ideas about the shrinesʼ original purposes. They should be seen as part of a single spatial concept providing the citizens of Mosul with universal, inclusive spaces without any specific dedication (accentuating expressions of devotion to the Prophet Muhammad and his family), which could be used by visitors to commemorate the founder. This universalistic message became subject to transformation in the Ilkhanid and later periods, which blurred the shrines’ original purpose and marked a shift towards the promotion of Imami Shiʽa through the application of the symbolism of the Twelve Imams in the shrinesʼ decoration.
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Research into the ecclesiastical organization of the Church of the East in Mesopotamia needs to shift its focus from an overall perspective to the microscale of individual dioceses, their locations, relations and development, and the... more
Research into the ecclesiastical organization of the Church of the East in Mesopotamia needs to shift its focus from an overall perspective to the microscale of individual dioceses, their locations, relations and development, and the morphology of their centres. Datasets produced by systematic archaeological surveys have considerable potential as tools for the reconstruction of the Christian landscape in a long-term process of continuity and change, particularly when the resulting spatial structures are combined with topographic data from textual sources. This paper attempts to use this combined historical-archaeological approach for the identification of two episcopal seats in the eparchy of Bet Garmai, which belong to the earliest stratum of dioceses in Mesopotamia: Šahqart and Ḫirbat Ğalāl. The results, as well as a broader view encompassing neighbouring dioceses in Bet Garmai and Ḥadyab, bring to light several features that should be examined in further research. These include a close connection between episcopal seats and urban foci of semi-independent secular power, building of sacred landscapes extra muros, as well as signs of regular coverage of the landscape by Christian administration at the beginning of the 5th century at the latest.
Research Interests: Christianity, Landscape Archaeology, Mesopotamian Archaeology, Early Christianity, Eastern Christianity, and 9 moreMesopotamian Religions, History of Monasticism, Mesopotamian history, Monastic Archaeology, Sasanian Archaeology, Church of the East, Christian Topography, Eastern Monasticism, and Archaeology In Kurdistan
In Iraq in general, and Northeastern Mesopotamia in particular, a fine-grained, regionally defined ceramic chronology of the Late Sasanian - Early Islamic transition period is far to be established. Therefore, the archaeological results... more
In Iraq in general, and Northeastern Mesopotamia in particular, a fine-grained, regionally defined ceramic chronology of the Late Sasanian - Early Islamic transition period is far to be established. Therefore, the archaeological results still are capable to offer new perspectives in the debate on historical processes to a very limited extent. The study presents some methodological points of departure for and preliminary results of the transition pottery analysis in the region of Adiabene/Hadyab (historical province of Arbela, Northeastern Mesopotamia). In addition to the definition of two Ceramic Periods (CP1 and CP2), that should cover a time span from the late 7th to the 9th century, the geographical distribution of pottery types and the dynamics of change in the structure of the pottery repertoire (and the corresponding change in the dining habits and culinary traditions) have also been preliminarily addressed.
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بناءً على بحث آثاري وتاريخي شامل، يتتبع هذا المقال تطور مدينة آلتون كوبري (پردێ)، والتي تقع في جزيرة صغيرة في نهر الزاب الأسفل، من أصلها الآشوري المفترض حتى القرن التاسع عشر. تعتمد الدراسة على مجموعة بيانات غنية، أمكن الحصول عليها من... more
بناءً على بحث آثاري وتاريخي شامل، يتتبع هذا المقال تطور مدينة آلتون كوبري (پردێ)، والتي تقع في جزيرة صغيرة في نهر الزاب الأسفل، من أصلها الآشوري المفترض حتى القرن التاسع عشر. تعتمد الدراسة على مجموعة بيانات غنية، أمكن الحصول عليها من تحليل صور الأقمار الصناعية، فضلاً عن المسح الميداني للموقع، والذي أجرته البعثة الآثارية التشيكية في كردستان العراق (مشروع "شبكة المدن في شمال شرق بلاد الرافدين في العصور الوسطى") بين عامي (2013–2014)، وبالتعاون مع علماء الآثار من جامعة صلاح الدين أربيل، ومفتشية آثار كركوك. لقد مكنتنا مؤلفات البلدانيين التاريخية والصور الفوتوغرافية، إضافة إلى الرسومات العثمانية والمخططات، من فهم الأصول والتطور لمعالم المدينة بالتفصيل، ولاسيما الجسور التي كانت تربط الجزيرة بالضفة الجنوبية والشمالية للنهر. وبالاستناد إلى تحليل المعلومات، أمكن تأريخ المرحلة الأخيرة من الجسرين العثمانيين – تم هدمهما في عام 1918 – في وقت ما قبل عام 1736، ولا تزال بقاياهما ظاهرة للعيان، إلى جانب آثار الجسور القديمة غير المعروفة التاريخ. وعليه نؤكد خضوع المدينة لتحول شامل في تركيبها الحضري، ولاسيما شبكات طرقاتها ومظهرها المعماري العام، ما بين القرنين (16–20 م).
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This paper explores the production characteristics and provenance of Islamic glazed pottery in the Adiabene region of northeastern Mesopotamia. Samples cover the entire time span under study, i.e., from the Early to the Late Islamic... more
This paper explores the production characteristics and provenance of Islamic glazed pottery in the Adiabene region of northeastern Mesopotamia. Samples cover the entire time span under study, i.e., from the Early to the Late Islamic periods. Analytical techniques such as ceramic petrography, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray microanalysis were employed to determine compositional (mineralogical and chemical) and technological characteristics. Based on the comparison of ceramic fabrics with up-to-date knowledge of regional geology, local plain pottery, and the published petrography of Mesopotamian ceramics, several provenance groups of glazed pottery (and one group of unglazed pottery) in the sample collection, originating from the Zabs catchment, the middle course of the Tigris (Samarra?) and the middle and lower course of the Tigris (Baghdad and/or Basra?) were defined. Dynamic oscillations in the ratio of regionally produced and imported pottery enable a detailed study of the socioeconomic differences between the Early and Middle Islamic periods.
Research Interests: Islamic Archaeology, Pottery (Archaeology), Archaeological Science, Mesopotamian Archaeology, Medieval Archaeology, and 9 moreArchaeometry, Archaeological Chemistry, Early Islamic Archaeology, Islamic pottery, Provenance studies of archaeological material, Ceramology, archaeology in Iraq, Islamic art and archaeology, and Early islamic pottery
The paper gives a brief overview of the annihilation of Mosul‘s historical architecture, whether deliberately perpetrated by ISIS (Daesh) or caused by terrestrial combats and bombardment during the liberation of the city. The situation of... more
The paper gives a brief overview of the annihilation of Mosul‘s historical architecture, whether deliberately perpetrated by ISIS (Daesh) or caused by terrestrial combats and bombardment during the liberation of the city. The situation of the architectural heritage in the city is monitored, among others, by the Monuments of Mosul in Danger Project since 2014. In addition to the main results of the documentation part of the project, the paper also introduces more conceptual questions regarding the ideological context of the violence on monuments, an ex post analysis of destroyed sites and future outlooks of the local heritage management.
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Against the backdrop of the destruction of Iraqi heritage over the past quarter of a century, this article critically reviews key aspects of the current state of Iraq’s cultural heritage, including damage to heritage buildings caused by... more
Against the backdrop of the destruction of Iraqi heritage over the past quarter of a century, this article critically reviews key aspects of the current state of Iraq’s cultural heritage, including damage to heritage buildings caused by Daesh in Iraq’s second largest city, Mosul. We bring together Iraqi and non-Iraqi expertise in heritage, archaeology, and human rights law to frame our approach, building on the movement to link cultural diversity, heritage, and cultural rights. We emphasise the need for planning to enhance protection of Iraq’s heritage, in particular through the preparation of inventories, the provision of resources for heritage education in schools and the development of Iraq’s museum sector. Iraq’s presence on the UNESCO World Heritage Lists needs to be enhanced, and the issues of illicit site looting and traffic in looted antiquities must be addressed within international contexts. Iraq’s future accession as State Party to the 1999 Second Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention is a priority in achieving these goals. The paper stresses the need for co-creation of heritage knowledge and a gender-sensitive human rights approach for the future of Iraq’s globally significant cultural heritage.
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This paper introduces two archaeological sites documented during the MULINEM (The Medieval Urban Landscape in Northeastern Mesopotamia) project. This project investigates the Late Sasanian and Islamic urban network in the land of Erbil, a... more
This paper introduces two archaeological sites documented during the MULINEM (The Medieval Urban Landscape in Northeastern Mesopotamia) project. This project investigates the Late Sasanian and Islamic urban network in the land of Erbil, a historic province of Hidyab (Adiabene) that is located in northern Iraq. The investigated sites are the two deserted cities of Makhmúr al-Quadíma and Al-Hadítha. It is assumed that these two sites used to form large cities with high business and cultural importance in the medieval period. The archaeological locations are endangered by various threats. The Al-Hadítha site seems to be under the control of the " Islamic state " at the moment and Makhmúr al-Quadíma is located just next to the town of new Makhmúr that expands rapidly and without complex urban plans. Documentation of the archaeological sites has been done by using remotely sensed methods together with in-situ measurements (where available). FORMOSAT-2 data that has been gained through a research announcement: Free FORMOSAT-2 satellite imagery and when combined with other sources (recent and historical data) it provides a powerful documentation tool. In-situ RPAS measurements and a DTM creation furnish a new source of highly valuable information. Influence of the political and security situation in Al-Hadítha will be analysed.
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More than fifteen sites of either confirmed or conjectured urban status existed in the Central Tigris and Adiabene regions between the 6th and 17th century AD. The presented project investigates their diversity, temporal dynamics and... more
More than fifteen sites of either confirmed or conjectured urban status existed in the Central Tigris and Adiabene regions between the 6th and 17th century AD. The presented project investigates their diversity, temporal dynamics and mutual relations.
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The MULINEM (The Medieval Urban Landscape in Northeastern Mesopotamia) project is aiming to investigate a Late Sasanian and Islamic urban network in the land of Erbil, historic province of Hidyab (Adiabene) that is located in the northern... more
The MULINEM (The Medieval Urban Landscape in Northeastern Mesopotamia) project is aiming to investigate a Late Sasanian and Islamic urban network in the land of Erbil, historic province of Hidyab (Adiabene) that is located in the northern Iraq. The research of the hierarchical urban network in a defined area belongs to approaches rarely used in the study of the Islamic urbanism. The project focuses on the cluster of urban sites of the 6th–17th centuries A.D. This paper focuses on remote sensing analysis of historical sites with special interest of FORMOSAT-2 data that have been gained through a research announcement: Free FORMOSAT-2 satellite Imagery. Documentation of two archaeological sites (Makhmúr al-Qadima and Kushaf) are introduced. FORMOSAT-2 data results have been compared to historic CORONA satellite data of mentioned historical sites purchased earlier by the University of West Bohemia. Remote sensing methods were completed using in-situ measurements.
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Kulturní genocidě páchané na severoirácké metropoli se snaží čelit členové České archeologické mise v severním Iráku, kteří pod záštitou Orientálního ústavu AV ČR zahájili projekt Ohrožená architektura města Mosulu. Jeho předmětem je... more
Kulturní genocidě páchané na severoirácké metropoli se snaží čelit členové České archeologické mise v severním Iráku, kteří pod záštitou Orientálního ústavu AV ČR zahájili projekt Ohrožená architektura města Mosulu. Jeho předmětem je podrobná dokumentace veškerých destrukčních událostí v systematicky likvidovaném městě. Ve světovém měřítku jde o projekt unikátní; jeho podporou se OÚ AV ČR připojuje k úsilí
několika institucí v USA, Velké Británii a Německu, které se zasazují o záchranu hmotného i duchovního dědictví v zemích Blízkého východu ohrožených aktuálními válečnými konflikty.
několika institucí v USA, Velké Británii a Německu, které se zasazují o záchranu hmotného i duchovního dědictví v zemích Blízkého východu ohrožených aktuálními válečnými konflikty.
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Overview of ongoing and recent field projects in Iraqi Kurdistan
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Impact of the Da´ash urbicide on the architectural heritage of the city of Mosul.
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This study presents a first attempt at an archaeological topography of the city of Arbīl (Arbela, Urbilum, Arbail). Arbīl’s large tell and citadel are among the most famous sites in North Iraq, although research on it has begun only... more
This study presents a first attempt at an archaeological topography of the city of Arbīl (Arbela, Urbilum, Arbail). Arbīl’s large tell and citadel are among the most famous sites in North Iraq, although research on it has begun only recently. The study of the immediate hinterlands of the tell, complementary use of written sources, remote sensing and surveys have revealed a view of the extremely long-term evolution of the lower town, whose architectural remains have entirely disappeared under modern building development.. Despite many lacunae in the data and a predominance of indirect hypotheses, the urban structure of the Assyrian Arbail becomes comprehensible in the context of other Assyrian royal capitals. During the Islamic period, the city underwent a transformation, which merged the once prosperous Sasanian provincial capital with the expanding Muslim community.
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Populárněji laděný text připomíná základní vývojové etapy archeologického výzkumu v Kurdistánu a český podíl na něm. Podrobněji je přiblížen průběh a hlavní výsledky české archeologické mise, která působí v severním Iráku od roku 2006.
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The architectural and archaeological survey of the Qubahan School near Amêdi enabled a detailed reconstruction of the building development beginning with the foundation of the complex in the 12th century AD. The monument is a rather rare... more
The architectural and archaeological survey of the Qubahan School near Amêdi enabled a detailed reconstruction of the building development beginning with the foundation of the complex in the 12th century AD. The monument is a rather rare example of Atabeg-period architecture in this region that has been neglected by scholars so far.
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Unglazed pottery made partly in moulds represents a specific kind of ceramics widespread all over the medieval Islamic world. A collection of finds of moulded ware from the deserted town at Istakhr, Iran, is presented along with a... more
Unglazed pottery made partly in moulds represents a specific kind of ceramics widespread all over the medieval Islamic world. A collection of finds of moulded ware from the deserted town at Istakhr, Iran, is presented along with a proposed assessment of its complex decoration based on a formalized description and use of multivariate statistical methods.
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North Mesopotamian town Arbil (ancient Urbilum, Arba-ilu, Arbela) with at least five-milenia-long history belongs among the towns with the longest settlement continuity of the world. The city, along with Ninive and Assur, reached the apex... more
North Mesopotamian town Arbil (ancient Urbilum, Arba-ilu, Arbela) with at least five-milenia-long history belongs among the towns with the longest settlement continuity of the world. The city, along with Ninive and Assur, reached the apex of its importance during the Neo-Assyrian period (10th–7th centuries BC) as a religious metropolis and royal residence, but maintained its central position in the region between Great Zab and Lesser Zab in later periods as well. The project of the archeological evaluation of the Arbil’s tell and the 10 ha-large-citadel situated on its crown started in 2006 as a joint project of the Czech and Iraqi institutions and represents also the first Czech archaeological expedition to Mesopotamia at all. The primary emphasis of the first season of the project was laid on gathering documentation of the citadel and gaining the first data regarding to chronology and stratigraphy of the tell, mainly with the help of non-destructive methods. Particular attention was also paid to the settlement context of the tell, although its nearly all area has been destroyed by expanding building activity of the present-day metropolis.
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Madrasa Qubahan at Amédi (´Amadíyya) represents a rare example of the Zangi-Period architecture in the northeast borderland of the Iraqi Kurdistan. The ruined building complex was subjected to survey, geophysical prospection and... more
Madrasa Qubahan at Amédi (´Amadíyya) represents a rare example of the Zangi-Period architecture in the northeast borderland of the Iraqi Kurdistan. The ruined building complex was subjected to survey, geophysical prospection and archaeological sondages.
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Stručná bilance a hlavní témata výzkumu islámských měst.
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Medieval monasteries often went beyond their religious mission and developed into economic, social, and educational centres. These were not spared from a violent attack on the part of the gentry. The defence of such monasteries is,... more
Medieval monasteries often went beyond their religious mission and developed into economic, social, and educational centres. These were not spared from a violent attack on the part of the gentry. The defence of such monasteries is, however, a poorly investigated area in bioarchaeological studies. A recently excavated skeletal sample found in front of the western gate of the Abbey Church at the Teplá monastery (Czech Republic) dated between the 13th and 15th century AD provides us a unique opportunity to fill this gap. The analysis of skeletal trauma reveals that 13 out of 30 individuals exhibited trauma, of which 69% were confidently related to violence. All individuals with injuries were males, and half of them were younger than 30 years of age. The presence of ante-mortem injuries indicates that males likely had previous combat experience, were successfully treated, and their bodies were buried with respect and care. The most probable explanation of our findings is that the individuals were a group of clients who were tasked with the defence of the Teplá monastery. Other, less likely explanations assume that individuals were laity, monastery benefactors, and/or canons killed during several different violent attacks directed at the monastery.
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V souvislosti se zrušením vojenského újezdu Brdy a vznikem chráněné krajinné oblasti v roce 2016 se oživila diskuse o přírodním bohatství tohoto území a o způsobech jeho ochrany. Při této, jistě nezbytné diskusi se ovšem často zapomíná,... more
V souvislosti se zrušením vojenského újezdu Brdy a vznikem chráněné krajinné oblasti v roce 2016 se oživila diskuse o přírodním bohatství tohoto území a o způsobech jeho ochrany. Při této, jistě nezbytné diskusi se ovšem často zapomíná, že Brdy nejsou jen cenným přírodním prostředím, ale mají i mimořádnou hodnotu historické kulturní krajiny, která je – na rozdíl od přírodního bohatství – podstatně hůře poznána a zdůvodněna. Studie přináší shrnutí stavu poznání a základní zhodnocení archeologického potenciálu Brd a zkoumá ve vztahu k tomuto území relevanci některých aktuálně užívaných teoretických přístupů k "marginálním", nekultivovaným a extenzivně využívaným formám krajiny.
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The Brdy Highland comprises a specific landscape area situated between Central, West and South Bohemia, which was always marked by a very low density of settlement, more or less contiguous woodland and unsuitable conditions for agriculture. Whereas the natural values of this territory have been the subject of professional discussions and protection for a longer time already, the extraordinary value of Brdy as a historical cultural landscape has not yet been recognized and defined.
The study summarizes the current state of the archaeological research of Brdy (in the extent of the current Protected Landscape Park) and demonstrates using the examples of the main category of local archaeological monuments. Based on a comparison with similar, better investigated areas in Europe, it also attempts a theoretical definition of Brdy as a so-called uncultivated („marginal”) landscape (outland, utmark etc.).
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The Brdy Highland comprises a specific landscape area situated between Central, West and South Bohemia, which was always marked by a very low density of settlement, more or less contiguous woodland and unsuitable conditions for agriculture. Whereas the natural values of this territory have been the subject of professional discussions and protection for a longer time already, the extraordinary value of Brdy as a historical cultural landscape has not yet been recognized and defined.
The study summarizes the current state of the archaeological research of Brdy (in the extent of the current Protected Landscape Park) and demonstrates using the examples of the main category of local archaeological monuments. Based on a comparison with similar, better investigated areas in Europe, it also attempts a theoretical definition of Brdy as a so-called uncultivated („marginal”) landscape (outland, utmark etc.).
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Článek předkládá předběžné výsledky druhé etapy archeologického výzkumu vyvolaného stavební a památkovou obnovou tepelské kanonie. Tato etapa probíhající v letech 2011–2012 byla souběžná s první fází realizace stavebních prací a měla... more
Článek předkládá předběžné výsledky druhé etapy archeologického výzkumu vyvolaného stavební a památkovou obnovou tepelské kanonie. Tato etapa probíhající v letech 2011–2012 byla souběžná s první fází realizace stavebních prací a měla povahu záchranného (předstihového) výzkumu a operativní dokumentace. Průzkumy a sondáže se soustředily na jižní část kanonie, zejména do prostoru bývalého rajského dvora a po obvodu prelatury, a přinesly – kromě velkého množství poznatků o středověkých a barokních klášterních budovách a o jejich opevnění – také objev neznámé románské sakrální stavby, kterou spojujeme s osobou velmože Hroznaty, zakladatele kláštera.
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The paper takes a stand on the assumptions that the Monastery of Friars Minor in Plzeň would be established prior to the generally accepted town foundation in 1288–1300. Based on archaeological excavation it outlines an image of the... more
The paper takes a stand on the assumptions that the Monastery of Friars Minor in Plzeň would be established prior to the generally accepted town foundation in 1288–1300. Based on archaeological excavation it outlines an image of the earliest development of natural and building environment at the southern border of the monastic area near the town walls.
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The study attempts to identify two finds of East Islamic pottery from the Middle Ages in the Czech Lands. It is highly likely that both pieces are standard early stonepaste wares of Syrian provenance whose occurrence in the Czech Lands... more
The study attempts to identify two finds of East Islamic pottery from the Middle Ages in the Czech Lands. It is highly likely that both pieces are standard early stonepaste wares of Syrian provenance whose occurrence in the Czech Lands can be linked to a period with increased contact between Central Europe and Palestine in the 12th – 1st half of 13th century. Unlike Syrian glass and its imitations, Levant pottery did not become goods with powerful, socially distinct or self-identifying symbolism; to the contrary, the role of isolated pottery imports remained limited to the sphere of social memory.
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The Baštiny Priory was founded by the Ostrov monastery in the pre-Hussite period in an outlying part of an extended forest in the Central Bohemian Uplands of Brdy. This study, based on a surface survey, examines the internal arrangement... more
The Baštiny Priory was founded by the Ostrov monastery in the pre-Hussite period in an outlying part of an extended forest in the Central Bohemian Uplands of Brdy. This study, based on a surface survey, examines the internal arrangement and the background of this unique monastic site and compares the results with the state of knowledge of small monastic houses in other parts of Europe.
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This paper is focussing on one of the most famous historical buildings of West Bohemia, the St. Peter’s Rotunda Church, wich is situated within the area of Přemyslid governing castle of Plzeň (today Starý Plzenec). Since the beginning of... more
This paper is focussing on one of the most famous historical buildings of West Bohemia, the St. Peter’s Rotunda Church, wich is situated within the area of Přemyslid governing castle of Plzeň (today Starý Plzenec). Since the beginning of 20th century the church was from the point of view of historians of art and archaeologists considered, practically without an exception,
to be a unique Pre-Romanesque building of the second half of 10th century. The aim of this study is to gather and analyse all of the direct or indirect information about the building. I intended to re-examine generally prevailing interpretation on the chronology and significance of this sacral building. At the same time was critically observed the development of knowledge on the feature during the 20th century and its incorporation into the theories on the beginning of the Early Medieval architecture in Bohemia.
to be a unique Pre-Romanesque building of the second half of 10th century. The aim of this study is to gather and analyse all of the direct or indirect information about the building. I intended to re-examine generally prevailing interpretation on the chronology and significance of this sacral building. At the same time was critically observed the development of knowledge on the feature during the 20th century and its incorporation into the theories on the beginning of the Early Medieval architecture in Bohemia.
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Saint George’s church, situated on the top of the Hill of Říp, an icon of the Czech Romanesque architecture, is a structure whose building development is known as improperly. This state is a result of four nationalistically oriented and... more
Saint George’s church, situated on the top of the Hill of Říp, an icon of the Czech Romanesque architecture, is a structure whose building development is known as improperly. This state is a result of four nationalistically oriented and poorly documented reconstructions in the 19th and 20th centuries. Critical revision of scattered reports, fragmentary documentation taken during those renovations, and some of the iconographic and written sources are the subject of this study.
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In the 10th–13th centuries, hillfort Pilsen (Plzeň) was the centre of Přemyslid administration in West Bohemia. Around 1295 its functions were translated to newly-founded, 10 km distant town New Pilsen. This study assesses the results of... more
In the 10th–13th centuries, hillfort Pilsen (Plzeň) was the centre of Přemyslid administration in West Bohemia. Around 1295 its functions were translated to newly-founded, 10 km distant town New Pilsen. This study assesses the results of more than a hundred years of ongoing archaeological investigation in terms of an understanding of the structures and development of this Early and High Medieval settlement of Old Pilsen. The greatest attention is devoted to newly-recovered indicators of the planned town foundation that in the second half of the 13th century was appended to the earlier settlement beneath a Přemyslid
stronghold, and which was in large measure abandoned again just after the foundation of the town New Pilsen.
stronghold, and which was in large measure abandoned again just after the foundation of the town New Pilsen.
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This study attempts to recapitulate the basic developments in, and describe the present state of, archaeological research in the areas of medieval ore extraction and processing in Bohemia. It aims to draw attention to the major problems... more
This study attempts to recapitulate the basic developments in, and describe the present state of, archaeological research in the areas of medieval ore extraction and processing in Bohemia. It aims to draw attention to the major problems and issues linked to this specialised research area, both in terms of the collection and analysis of data and at the level of theory and interpretation. Czech archaeology should systematically develop the opportunities for analysis and interpretation provided by its sources to emphasize their contribution to the resolution of the technological, socio–economic, settlement, cultural and environmental questions associated with the medieval exploitation of raw materials.
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"Předběžné shrnutí výsledků první etapy archeologického výzkumu vyvolaného právě začínající památkovou obnovou tepelské kanonie. Průzkumy a sondáže soustředěné do jižní části klášterního areálu přinesly řadu poznatků o morfologii terénu... more
"Předběžné shrnutí výsledků první etapy archeologického výzkumu
vyvolaného právě začínající památkovou obnovou tepelské kanonie. Průzkumy a sondáže soustředěné do jižní části klášterního areálu přinesly řadu poznatků o morfologii terénu v době před lokací konventu, o nejstarším opevnění lokality a podobě středověkého konventu, o zakládání barokních budov a souvisejících kanalizačních systémech. Poznatky budou zohledněny v projektu památkové obnovy."
vyvolaného právě začínající památkovou obnovou tepelské kanonie. Průzkumy a sondáže soustředěné do jižní části klášterního areálu přinesly řadu poznatků o morfologii terénu v době před lokací konventu, o nejstarším opevnění lokality a podobě středověkého konventu, o zakládání barokních budov a souvisejících kanalizačních systémech. Poznatky budou zohledněny v projektu památkové obnovy."
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Since Middle Ages, the settlement of the Strašice microregion in West Bohemia was based upon the processing of the local iron ore deposits and its related manufacturing activities. In 1605, the one of the first blast furnace in the Czech... more
Since Middle Ages, the settlement of the Strašice microregion in West Bohemia was based upon the processing of the local iron ore deposits and its related manufacturing activities. In 1605, the one of the first blast furnace in the Czech lands was built here. The archaeological project is aimed at researching medieval and early modern production in this region, including this influence on the landscape and environment. An emphasis has been laid on the technological aspects of the late medieval iron metallurgy - an issue which has been mostly avoided in the Czech lands.
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One can suppose that the residuality is a function of the land use intensity. Migration and deposition of artefacts (and ecofacts) into considerably younger deposits is by no means rare, random phenomenon in the urban archaeological... more
One can suppose that the residuality is a function of the land use intensity. Migration and deposition of artefacts (and ecofacts) into considerably younger deposits is by no means rare, random phenomenon in the urban archaeological environment- The study of this complex process cannot be restricted to the concrete, individual, chronologically distinctive finds which might be recognized with the naked eye. Identification of differences among the archaeological assemblages in spatio – temporal perspective by quantitative methods is decisive for study of the residuality: heterogeneity and fragmentarisation of assemblages seems to be the most important indicator. Besides the measure of diversity and seriation used in our case–study a further analytical potential of Harris stratigraphic diagramms has been also verified. It is to be stressed that the study of residuality and infiltration in complicated urban stratifications makes some demands on the method of excavation: it would need to take heed of the measure of volume of deposits and to modificate the description of deposits so as to obtain more exact data for their genetic clasification and quantitative analysis.
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Archaeological investigation in the nuclei of living villages of medieval origin - theoretical outline of the research agenda and first field results (in Czech).
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Archaeological report on the extraordinarily intensive medieval production of wood tar in Central Bohemia.
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Záchranným výzkumem v r. 1996-97 byla v intravilánu vsi Bdeněves na Plzeňsku vymezena elevace v ose meandru Mže, pokrytá stopami osídlení od starší doby římské. Většina plochy současného vesnického jádra spočívá na mocném proluviálním... more
Záchranným výzkumem v r. 1996-97 byla v intravilánu vsi Bdeněves na Plzeňsku vymezena elevace v ose meandru Mže, pokrytá stopami osídlení od starší doby římské. Většina plochy současného vesnického jádra spočívá na mocném proluviálním kuželu novověkého stáří, vzniklém v důsledku nevhodného antropogenního zásahu do pozůstatku pleistocenní terasy nad vesnicí. Proces eroze a akumulace je sledován v kontextu dalších vývojových proměn vesnice v raném novověku.
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Auf dem Gebiet des einstigen Dorfes Bolevec, gegenwärtig eines Stadtteils von Pilsen, befindet sich der einzige stehende Teerbrennofen in den böhmischen Ländern. Er wird in das 19. Jahrhundert datiert, wobei er höchstwahrscheinlich 1812... more
Auf dem Gebiet des einstigen Dorfes Bolevec, gegenwärtig eines
Stadtteils von Pilsen, befindet sich der einzige stehende Teerbrennofen in den böhmischen Ländern. Er wird in das 19. Jahrhundert datiert, wobei er höchstwahrscheinlich 1812 entstand, und sein Betrieb noch in der zweiten Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts nach einer gründlichen, mit Errichtung eines Werkstättengebäudes zusammenhängenden Rekonstruktion bewiesen wurde.
Stadtteils von Pilsen, befindet sich der einzige stehende Teerbrennofen in den böhmischen Ländern. Er wird in das 19. Jahrhundert datiert, wobei er höchstwahrscheinlich 1812 entstand, und sein Betrieb noch in der zweiten Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts nach einer gründlichen, mit Errichtung eines Werkstättengebäudes zusammenhängenden Rekonstruktion bewiesen wurde.
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Záchranný výzkum; nález zemědělského sídliště z 12. století s doklady železářského hutnictví a izolovaně umístěné studny z 15. století s výrazným environmentálním záznamem.
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První archeologické výzkumy v jádře poddanského městečka, doklady dřevohlinitého opevnění, nejstarší středověké zástavby, sídelně historické souvislosti.
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Doklady částečně zemědělského osídlení z 13. - 15. století ve vrcholových partiích Brd (in Czech only).
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Ongoing large-scale survey projects in Iraqi Kurdistan give insights, on an unprecedented scale and depth, into settlement patterns and dynamics of more than seven-Millenia-long continual settlement history of NE Mesopotamia. The pottery... more
Ongoing large-scale survey projects in Iraqi Kurdistan give insights, on an unprecedented scale and depth, into settlement patterns and dynamics of more than seven-Millenia-long continual settlement history of NE Mesopotamia. The pottery collections that are systematically sampled in the frame of these projects provide unique datasets for the reconstruction of social maps and spaces of human agency in the hinterland of Assyrian and later cities and towns. In this paper, Middle Islamic (ca. 11th–14th century AD) pottery collections obtained by Erbil Plain Archaeological Survey (EPAS) are analyzed and compared against an up-to-date model of the agricultural settlement pattern in the hinterland of the city of Arbil. Distinguishing of domestic pottery production and imported ceramic wares (both utilitary and status-expressing ones) in the collections enables to assess social and connectivity differences between different categories of agricultural sites themselves. These differences may be important for a more detailed reconstruction of the centralization processes at the time of the establishment of the independent Begteginid emirate with Arbil as a dynastic residential city.
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Koncentrace velkých klášterních institucí můžeme označit za jeden z nejvýraznějších specifických znaků středověkého vývoje západních Čech. „Dlouhé 12. století", kdy proces klášterních fundací započal, je rámováno dvěma důležitými daty:... more
Koncentrace velkých klášterních institucí můžeme označit za jeden z nejvýraznějších specifických znaků středověkého vývoje západních Čech. „Dlouhé 12. století", kdy proces klášterních fundací započal, je rámováno dvěma důležitými daty: rokem 1115, kdy kníže Vladislav I. založil vůbec první západočeský konvent v Kladrubech, a rokem 1193, po němž byla v jiné periferní části západočeského pohraničí založena premonstrátská kanonie v Teplé. Na okolnosti a průběh založení obou klášterů se můžeme podívat šťastnou kombinací písemných zpráv a výsledků nových archeologických výzkumů. Co bylo společné a co rozdílné oběma fundacím? Jaký kus cesty urazila transformující se středověká společnost za toto období a odrazil se tento posun v řeholní praxi a ve vztazích mezi fundátorem a konventem?
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A speech on the initial meeting of rashid international, Munich, 28 November 2015
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organizuje Národní památkový ústav, Západočeská univerzita v Plzni a Centrum medievistických studií
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The researches in the area of living city of Hawler / Arbil, neglected until very recently, become more and more challenging task not only for the modern archaeology of the 21st century, but also for heritage authorities and municipal... more
The researches in the area of living city of Hawler / Arbil, neglected until very recently, become more and more challenging task not only for the modern archaeology of the 21st century, but also for heritage authorities and municipal planning. The paper will sum up indirect information available about visible remains of the lower town of ancient Arbela, which, albeit have completely disappeared due to modern city sprawl, do enable some considerations about structure and dynamics of the pre-Islamic royal city. The existing results, however, are of highly hypothetical character and need to be supported by new empirical data which I consider to be one of the most urgent tasks of archaeology in the Arbil urban landcape.
In the ongoing archaeological project, we pursue surveys and interpretation of the network of Late Sasanian – Late Islamic cities and towns in the land of Arbīl, in northeastern Mesopotamia. About 20 of urban sites from the 6th to 17th... more
In the ongoing archaeological project, we pursue surveys and interpretation of the network of Late Sasanian – Late Islamic cities and towns in the land of Arbīl, in northeastern Mesopotamia. About 20 of urban sites from the 6th to 17th centuries, mostly deserted, have been identified in the historic province Adiabene or Hazza, bounded by rivers of Great Zab, Little Zab and Tigris. The archaeological substance of the sites is mostly very well preserved in the relief of the arid steppe environment and can be excellently identified in satellite images of several types. The research of these settlements offers a rare opportunity for holistic study of a medieval urban network dynamics, its resilience, degree of integration and causes of diversity of individual sites. Some specific features of Arbīl ´s urban development from the 7th to 13th century seem to be more comprehensible in the comparison with preliminary remote sensing, analysis of textual evidence and field observation of sites in its wider background.