EAA 2022: Abstract

Budeč is an early medieval stronghold (ca. 9th-12th cent.) located about 20 km northwest of Prague (Czech Republic). The site’s name appeared in written sources as early as the 10th century. Therefore the site has always attracted the attention of historians and archeologists. The most extensive archeological excavations took place in the 70s’ and 80s’ and brought a vast mass of archeological sources. On the other hand, the excavation results have been published only in several sub-papers and two (more or less) science popularization monographs. In these publications, the site is interpreted as a temporary residence of the princely Přemyslid family and a significant administrative center of the nascent Přemyslid state. The site is considered one of the best investigated archeological sites in the Czech Republic.
However, a significant part of the archeological sources from the excavations at Budeč have remained unprocessed or deserve revisions. Therefore, a revision of selected archival sources became part of my PhD research. Besides critically reading the archival documentation, I have processed spatial data in GIS and applied modern geodetic surveys. The revision shifted the general interpretation of Budeč as, primarily, a Christianization center of the early medieval Přemyslid state.
In addition, the aforementioned revision has shown more gaps in the research of the site. At the same time, the chances of conducting modern excavations in situ are currently quite low. Thus, future research at Budeč is limited to further processing archival sources and applying non-destructive research methods. Both will be included in the proposal of a new research project I am working on at the moment.
This paper will present the results of my PhD research, as well as the proposal for the new research project.

Budeč, Early Middle Ages, Archival sources, Revision research, Stronghold

Oral presentation

  Abstract (PDF)

Pavla Tomanova¹