Success of Polish archaeologists in the Iława Lake District

For over two months now, a team of underwater archaeologists led by dr. hab. Andrzej Pydyna from the Department of Underwater Archaeology, Institute of Archaeology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń has been conducting research in the Iława Lake District. The works are conducted jointly with the Institute of Archaeology of the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw and are supported by the Association of Polish Archaeologists Branch in Warsaw.

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The research is possible thanks to financial support granted by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage within the programme Cultural Heritage and the priority Protection of Archaeological Monuments. The grant headed by prof. dr. hab. Przemysław Urbańczyk and entitled “Non-destructive comprehensive identification of archaeological resources of the lake bottom and coastal zone in selected basins of the Iławskie Lake District within the framework of underwater AZP” is the largest project of this kind implemented in Polish inland basins.

Research was carried out in several selected areas located on different lakes. The effort put in, however, resulted in spectacular finds. Apart from numerous, sometimes perfectly preserved monuments, complex wooden structures were found, most of which are remains of bridge crossings.

The preliminary analysis of the historical material and dendrochronological research allows us to assume that the bridges found here date from the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th centuries. The bridge crossing the isthmus separating the Płaskie and Jeziorak lakes was built mainly of wood cut in the years 1055/1056. It was an important element of the communication route leading deep into Prussia.

Another interesting bridge crossing was found on Lake Łodygowo. Dendrochronological research conducted by Prof. Tomasz Ważny from the Nicolaus Copernicus University suggests that one of the bridges leading to the so-called Kurhanów Island on Lake Łodygowo was built or repaired in 1333. However, the bridge leading to the opposite shore may have already been in place in the first half of the 12th century, or even earlier, as indicated by the historical material.

The island, despite its small size, must have been an important centre of power or worship because it was connected to the shore by two bridges, each almost 200 m long. These bridges were planned so that their abutments were located in the area of the gate leading to the castle.

The research carried out within the project allowed to locate precisely the bridge crossing leading to the northern end of the Wielka Żuława island. It is known from dendrochronological research that the structure was built between 1268 and 1269, but the varied archaeological material suggests that the site was used for several centuries.

It seems likely that the construction of the bridge was connected with the functioning on the island of the castle examined during the previous archaeological research. Research in the Iława Lake District will continue until late autumn, which allows us to assume that there will be further interesting discoveries.