Łodzie jednopienne z Jeziora Lednickiego

Abstract

Multiannual underwater archaeological explorations in the area of Ostrów Lednicki resulted in discovering old boat-building historical relics. These were watercrafts, made of a single tree trunk, defined as logboat (monoxylon boat), dugout or dugout canoe. Up to the present time, 7 dugouts have been spotted, what places this collection in the first position in terms of a number of that watercrafts type, discovered in a single waterbody in Poland. The characterized set of historical finds of old boat-building from Lednickie Lake indicates, that various forms and types of dugouts, which shapes were adapted to the way of their use, had been made there in respective periods. Watercrafts had to comply with assumed requirements and relevant safety conditions for users, in order to perform their task well. The oldest boat – no. I, is distinguished by workmanship of a quality, unparalleled in other boats discovered in Poland. Although at present, it is difficult to confirm with certainty earlier suggestions, that it could have been duke’s boat or a watercraft for special tasks, accuracy of its construction, we should think, emphasized the prestige of a person travelling by it across the lake. The fact, that this boat comes from the period when the center of Ostrów Lednicki played an important role in arising state of the Piasts, is not accidental. Two succeeding mediaeval boats (no. III and VI), are similar in form to the previous one, however, because of unusual material used for the construction and the context of their deposition, they would be associated with dramatic events, which led to the destruction of Lednica bridges, and more precisely, with the armed attack carried out from the side of water onto the island. Another logboat no. II, originating from the beginning of 16th c differs from the previous ones with its manufacturing method and interior composition. Few similarities are also observed comparing it to a boat from Lednogóra IV, two hundred years younger. Logboats from modern times deposited in Lednickie Lake are not conspicuous against the background of similar historical heritage objects of Polish territory by anything special and are examples of smaller watercrafts used first of all for fishing, but occasionally also for transport or communication.