State of research on early medieval strongholds in Western Greater Poland

The study reviews the current state of research on early medieval strongholds in Western Greater Poland, a region in which roughly 30 such sites are known. Built in the older phases of the Early Middle Ages, they precede the formation of the state of the first Piasts, which took place from the second half of the 10th century. The strongholds display considerable diversity in terms of physical features and probably also in their chronology and function. The northwestern part of Greater Poland, however, has been studied to a limited and rather selective degree. The preliminary analysis of local strongholds presented in this paper indicates significant research potential, particularly given their good state of preservation. Key questions concern the chronological variability of the sites, their functions, and the role they played within micro-regional settlement networks. Ultimately, these investigations may shed light on the social and political dynamics underlying the origin, functioning, and decline of the strongholds.