ARCHKRA024 Prehistory of Silesia

Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava
Summer 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Vratislav Janák, CSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Vratislav Janák, CSc.
Institute of Historical Sciences – Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava
Prerequisites
For undergraduate students
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The lecture course provides students with basic knowledge of the prehistory of Silesia as a whole (Czech and Polish parts) from the old from the Paleolithic to the period of migration of peoples. The character of the natural environment, the history of research and the current state of knowledge are discussed prehistoric development with an emphasis on the historical specificity of Silesia in the context of prehistoric Central Europe, especially on its the role of a link between the European North and South.
Learning outcomes
Basic knowledge of the prehistory of Silesia as a whole.
Syllabus
  • 1. Comprehensive definition of the term Silesia from various points of view. The arbitrary nature of such a delimitation. Key the communication importance of the region between the European North and South. 2. History of archaeological research in Silesia. Its complicated development in terms of heuristics and interpretation; relics of it can still be seen today. Basic syntheses and journals. 3. Systematics of archaeological cultures of the Silesian Prehistory and its problems. 4. Silesia in the Old and Middle Paleolithic (± 500,000 – 40,000 BC). The period before the advent of the modern man (homo sapiens sapiens). 5. Silesia in the early (± 40,000 – 11,000 BC) and late (11,000 – 8,000 BC) Paleolithic. An important resource silicate raw materials for the middle Danube. 6. Silesia in the Mesolithic (±8,000 - 5,500/4,000 BC ? the dating of the very end of the Mesolithic is still unclear). Last phase of the hunter-gatherer epoch. 7. The oldest farmers of the linear pottery culture and the post-linear Neolithic culture (± 5,500 – around 4,000 BC) AD). 8. Eneolithic (Late Stone Age, ± around 4,000 – 2,300/2,000 BC) as a prelude to metallics. 9. Early Bronze Age (±2,300/2,000 - 1,500 BC). The great unification of Eneolithic differences. Unetic culture, Nitra culture, Nowocerkwian group. 10. Middle to Late Bronze Age (±1,500 – 8th century BC). The period of culmination of bronze metallurgy a period of non-ferrous metals at all. The Pre-Lusatian Mound Culture Group and the Lusatian Garbage Fields Culture (older - Lusatian and middle - Silesian phase). 11. Early Iron Age or Hallstatt (±8th century - 400/2nd century BC 1,). The beginning of a new era, based on meaning iron as a decisive technological material for the production of tools and weapons. The youngest (mercenary) stage Lusatian garbage fields and (in the northern part of the region) maritime culture. 12. Latén period (± 400 – end of the 2nd century). Episode of Celtic occupation of both traditional settlement areas in Silesia and their inclusion in the framework of Celtic civilization. On the eastern edge of the region (Podbeskydí) it extends from of northern Slovakia, the Hallstatt-Latin (most likely also ethnically mixed) Puchov culture (± 2nd century - break year). 13. Roman period (± late 2nd century BC – ± 450 AD). Silesia is part of the culture of the Priory, representing it a large southern Polish ethnic complex of Germanic tribes. In Silesia it was supposed to be the Lugi, later called the Vandals. After ± 450 AD, archaeological and written sources become silent until the arrival of the Slavs.
Literature
    required literature
  • Janák, V.: Slezsko v pravěku. In: Kolektiv: Slezsko v dějinách českého státu. I. Od pravěku do roku 1490. Praha 2012, 18-94, 438-489.
  • Trcziński, M. (ed.): Śląsk starożytny i średniowieczny. Katalog expozice. Wrocław 2016.
  • Hensel, W. (ed.).: Prahistoria Ziem Polskich I – V. Wrocław – Warszawa–Kraków – Gdańsk – Łódż 1975-1985. (kapitoly o Slezsku).
    recommended literature
  • Gediga, B. – Józefowska, A.: Cmentarzysko z epoki żelaza w Domasławiu 10/11/12, powiat wrocławski. I. – III. Wrocław 2018.
  • Ciolek, R.: Die Fundmünzen der römischen Zeit in Polen. Schlesien. Wetteren 2008.
  • Gedl, M.: Wczesnołużyckie cmentarzysko w Kietrzu. Część I, Kraków 1991. Część II, Kraków 1992. Część III, Kraków 1996.
  • Gediga, B.: Autostradowa skala poznawania przeszlości. ArcheologiaŻywa 2004, 1-2,Warszawa 2004, 20-31.
  • Godłowski, K.: Kultura przeworska na Górnym Śląsku. Katowice – Kraków 1969.
Teaching methods
lecture
Assessment methods
Credit, written test
Language of instruction
Czech
The course is also listed under the following terms Winter 2022, Summer 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Summer 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.slu.cz/course/fpf/summer2025/ARCHKRA024