EAA2021: Abstract

The Budeč Stronghold is an abandoned early medieval fortified settlement located in central Bohemia (Czech Republic). It represents a site that would be traditionally labelled as an early medieval “castle”. In the contemporary written evidence of 10th century, Budeč was described with the term „civitas“. Past intensive and systematic archaeological research put together an image of the Budeč Stronghold as one of the most significant regional centres in Bohemia, and an administrative support point of the royal Přemyslid family in the times of emergence of the early medieval Czech state. In this traditional approach, the administrative and political aspects were usually accented.
The proposed paper however aims to offer a different approach to the investigation of the Budeč Stronghold. Recently, a study has been conducted that has focused primarily on the testimony of church architecture and on spatial analyses of the site. The study has combined methods of traditional and digital archaeology, together with history of architecture. Results of the study have put together an image of Budeč as not only an administrative-political centre, but primarily as a missionary centre and support point for Christianisation of the early medieval Přemyslid Bohemia. Moreover, some finds and features at Budeč indicate the everyday reality of the Christianisation process, including cultural syncretism and even violence. To sum up, the proposed paper turns the perspective from a general image of early medieval “castle” to the more specific image of Budeč as a significant (not only) political, but also (and especially) ecclesiastical centre of early medieval Bohemia.

Early Middle Ages, Castles, Strongholds, Budeč, Christianisation

 Abstract (PDF)

Pavla Tomanova¹