On the example of Ostrów Tumski in Wrocław (Silesia, Polish lands) an attempt of identification of places associated with trade and exchange in early medieval strongholds was made. The alleged marketplace existed in the stronghold from the end of the 11th century to the end of the 12th century. Its existence would be confirmed by the empty square between buildings, the accumulation of finds related to trade and exchange as well as spending free time. The connection of some buildings form Ostrów Tumski with commercial activities is also not excluded. On the basis of analogies from the main centers of the Piast state and selected sites from the Bohemian and Moravian territories, the potential location of the marketplaces was analyzed. Attention was drawn to the relationship between finds related to trade and exchange with other manifestations of economic activity (e.g. non-ferrous metallurgy). An attempt was also made to answer the question when and in what political and economic conditions such places could be created.
This study summarizes the current state of archaeological knowledge of Slavic settlement in the so-called Czech Silesia that is currently regarded as the southern part of the historical Upper Silesia located mostly in the territory of today’s Poland. It is in this region that the Slavic tribe of the Golensizi mentioned by the so-called Bavarian Geographer is generally agreed to have settled. The study focuses on the period between the 8th and 10th/11th centuries as older records of Slavic presence are now known yet. It is not only based on results of previous research, but also brings in new findings. Three basic settlement components are monitored: strongholds, burial grounds and open settlements, which together make up an interconnected structure. Attention is paid mainly to localities where a long-term archaeological research was carried out and that provided us with material of good informative value. The aim of this study is to offer a historical interpretation of events that happened in the region during the aforementioned period.