The beginnings of the west-Slavic strongholds

Bachelor thesis deals with the beginnings of the west-slavic strongholds. These objects had a significant position in settlement structure during the early middle ages. Interpretation requires an accurate dating. To describe the beginnings of hillforts is much more complicated because the archaeological artefacts, especially early medieval pottery as predominant find, are not easy to date. Direct dating is now available in some cases thanks to dendrochronology. According to this new method we know, that building of ramparts began later than we supposed. On the other side the documentary records know rampart in the seventh century. Though in the archaeological evidence it seems, that hillforts were not represented in the Slavic settlement since early. The context for such fortification must lie outside a supposed Slavic immigration. The aim of this work is to find out cause, which lead to building ramparts and determine functions, which hillforts fulfilled. Learning about their development in particular regions will lead to better understanding this phenomenon