ABSTRACT
Wolin is one of the oldest early medieval towns in Poland. Wolin was
the center of production, commercial and culture. Wolin next to Birka
and Uppåkra in Sweden and Hedeby in Denmark was the biggest town in
North Europe in the Viking period.
Since the end of XIX century the hole of the town is one great
archaeological protected area. Almost all over the town under the
houses and streets are about 8 m of archaeological levels with the
archaeological remains from the early medieval and medieval period.
In
the X-XII century Wolin had about 8000-10000 inhabitants. It was two
times more than today. Wolin was a Slavonic town but had many
Scandinavian, Russian, Frisian and Saxon inhabitants too. They lived
in the peace here.
Wolin played an important role in the Polish and Scandinavian history
too. The “Jomsvikingasaga” is the old Scandinavian book
written
in the XIIth and XIIIth century in Island. It is a story about Viking
brotherhood lived in Xth century in fortificated town called Jomsborg.
Jomsborg is the Scandinavian name of Wolin.
About Wolin is the “Legend about Wineta” too. Wineta was the legendary
rich town destroyed be the see because the inhabitants was to pride
and they didn’t respects the gods and peoples.
The
archaeological remains of Wolin are the subjects of scientific
research since 50 years. The archaeologists excavated the old houses,
roads, harbors, temples, boats, workshops and many thousands of
archaeological artifacts like jewelry, tools, clothing’s, weapon,
pottery, shoes and so one made of clay, amber, bronze, wood, stone,
glass, silver and gold. About the scientific research of Wolin is
written many articles and books. Many of the artifacts from the
archeological excavations in Wolin can you see in the local
archaeological museum in Wolin and very often on the exhibitions in
different museums all over Europe. |
