The Beginning of the Sacral Architecture in West Bohemia. Chapters from Church Archeology.

The aim of the thesis is a research of the oldest sacral architecture on the example of one region - West Bohemia. While historical research has suggested that the oldest churches were built at administrative castles and formed the basis of a great-parish system, archaeological sources show a different image. Already during the 11th century, we have documented a number of churches in the landscape. Their relationship to older burial grounds is being explored. Compared to the supposed discontinuity between older row burial sites and church cemeteries, it appears that in many cases there was a direct spatial connection. The churches were founded in places of older settlement, as well as in places of older cemeteries. Archaeological research has documented wooden buildings and stone architecture too. In several cases, spatial and functional links to residences have been explored. In many cases, a greater age of churches was proved. Some churches were preceded by an older sacral building. The position of some churches on important roads and borders indicates their symbolic role. The results of archaeological research formulated to questions who were the builders of these churches and what was their role in medieval society. Thus, the view of the early Christianization of the early medieval population..