Discovery of a medieval bridge on Lake Jeziorak

A group of underwater archaeologists working under the direction of dr. hab. Andrzej Pydyn from the Department of Underwater Archaeology, Institute of Archaeology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń made a sensational discovery of relics of a medieval bridge leading from the Wielka Żuława island on Jeziorak lake near Iława to the mainland.

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The research was carried out as part of an interdisciplinary project involving many scientists and directed by Professor Zbigniew Kobyliński from the Institute of Archaeology of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw. The programme, entitled “Catalogue of Warmia and Mazury settlements” is financed by the National Programme for the Development of the Humanities.

The remains of a bridge crossing were located by underwater archaeologists doing prospecting in the lakes of the Iława district, with particular emphasis on Lake Jeziorak. In the area of Wielka Żuława island, the team penetrated the lake bottom in the vicinity of the Teutonic conical castle located on the island, which was excavated by a team led by Dr Jacek Wysocki from the University of Warsaw.

Underwater archaeologists came across rows of oak stakes leading from the island in the northern direction. Samples of oak wood taken for dendrochronological analysis were estimated by Prof. Tomasz Ważny from the Nicolaus Copernicus University (UMK) to be from the second half of the 13th century. It seems highly probable that the bridge was built in the winter of 1268/1269, during the second Prussian uprising against the Order (1260-1274).

The bridge was mainly constructed using oak piles, but the crossing was also strengthened with piles made from other types of wood, such as alder and birch. The maximum pile spacing is 3.5m, but it seems more likely that the width of the bridge was only about 2.5m, with the outermost piles being diagonal buttresses.

In the area of the conical castle from the same period there were wooden buildings with stone floors, probably serving as a watchtower. Cartographic sources found by the historian Seweryn Szczepański from Ilawa indicate that the bridge or the memory of it was still functioning in the early 17th century.

Archaeological discoveries made in 2012 prove that the island of Wielka Żuława played an important role in the military system of the monastic state, and the knight’s watchtower located there controlled the communication route leading from the south to the north along Lake Jeziorak in the direction of Elbląg.

Information comes from ZAP manager Andrzej Pydyna

Source: podwodna.net