The Environmental Context of the Early-Slavic Culture Settlement at Zofipole, Site 1, Kraków District

Abstract

The paper presents the settlement of the Early-Slavic culture on site 1 at Zofipole, Kraków district, framed in the context of changes of natural environment from the 5th to the 7th century AD. The Zofipole site belongs to the group of nine small settlements from that period located on the left-hand side loess terrace of the Vistula River. This area is well recognized from both the archaeological and the paleographic points view. Despite unfavorable climatic changes, life there was facilitated by the natural advantages of the place. The location of settlements on the border of two different ecosystems – a loess terrace and a floodplain – was convenient for land cultivation and stock breeding. The floodplain was also the source of raw material for pottery production. In such conditions, elementary agricultural activities were possible and secured the basic needs of the inhabitants of the small settlements in that zone, such as that at Zofipole.