Archeologia

The investigation were carried out on the medieval horses thoracic and lumbar spine excavated between 2009-2011 by the Institute of Archaeology, University of Wroclaw at New Market Square in Wroclaw (Wratislavia, Breslau), capital city of the Polish province of Lower Silesia. The pathological changes, like: ankylosis of the zygapophyses, fusion of the vertebral bodies and arches and the interspinal space calcification were observed. The X-ray examination was done. During medieval artefact interpretation the biomechanical aspect of horse's locomotor system was taken into consideration. The archaeozoological material was compared with modern horse's spine (with similar pathological changes and known history of disease). The analysis proved, that the observed osseous reaction was a result of the long-lasting inflammation. Such a disease appearance accompanies chronic inflammatory state of errector muscles of the spine. It is typical for those horses utilised for the saddle.

The article is a summary of the results from a wide-scale archaeological and architectural investigation of an elite town plot with a frontage on the western side of the main Market Square (Rynek) in Wrocław. A trial reconstruction was made of the evolution of the built environment of the plot during the Middle Ages, with the changes separated into three stages. Also discussed is the function of the yard behind the buildings.

The article discusses the buildings in the northern area of the Upper Castle in Wleń -which are two stone buildings that were added flush with the castle's perimeter wall. A discussion of their construction and alterations made during the late medieval and early modern period is presented here. The analysis of the rich assemblage of small finds, recovered from the two buildings, offers insight into the living conditions and fashions of their elite users.

The site is unique due to two reasons. One is wet environment which resulted in preservation of organic materials including massive constructions like road pavements and breakwater. The second is long-lasting settlement resulting in thick occupational layers, in some parts of the area reaching 2 meters. This enabled observation on changing trends in agriculture and production.
The book contains results of excavations (mostly from 1980s') and further interdisciplinary studies (run over last 2 years), presented in 22 papers in Polish with English summaries.