The Slavonic stronghold from a tribal period in Podobora is in today’s Czech Republic, about 5 km from Cieszyn. In both regional literature and tradition it is often referred to as “Stary Cieszyn”(Old Cieszyn) or “Cieszynisko”. The oldest remains of settlement on the hill, that was defensive by nature and situated on the left bank of the Olza river, come from the close of the Bronze Age (900-750 B.C.) and they give evidence to the existence of an unfortified settlement. In the Hallstatt period, i.e. the later Iron Age (750 – 400 B.C.) that settlement was turned into a stronghold that was protected by an embankment of stone and soil and a moat. In the course of archaeological examinations over many years the remains of homesteads in the form of semi-dug-outs and above-ground pillared huts were uncovered. Ceramics is represented by different forms of vessels, such as: crocks, bowls, small amphorae, and scoops, embellished with rich linear ornamentation. Also a rich collection of iron and bronze objects were discovered: sickles, knives-hatchets, arrow-heads and fastening pins. This period of settlement was ended by the violent destruction of the stronghold. The next stage of settlement is associated with Slavonic people. In the 8th century, in Podobora, a huge stronghold came into being, protected by embankments with palisades and moats, consisting of 2 smaller settlements and the most important part, a so-called acropolis, the centre of the territorial authorities. The inhabitants of the stronghold lived in huts of pillared construction, with walls made of plaitwork and a fire-place in the corner of the room. They specialized mainly in iron smelting and fashioning, and farming. Different findings of various types of metal wares or hand-mills and sickles give evidence to this. At the end of the 9th century the stronghold suffered severe damage by the invasion of the Grand Moravian ruler, Svatopolk. The archaeological examinations give evidence to the fact that even in the 10th cent. what remained of the stronghold was inhabited, but the leading function of the stronghold-castellany was taken over by a new stronghold on the Castle Hill in Cieszyn.

W. Kuś, translation L. Krzanowska & J Whitewood