19.2.2010 Unique engraved drawing at Prague Castle

The unique engraved drawing was discovered by archaeologists eleven years ago at Prague Castle. It was during rescue research of the so-called Middle Wing, where the information centre is located. It was the first such find on the territory of the capital.

According to experts, the drawing probably depicts one of the castle's buildings. The research was carried out by the staff of the Archaeological Institute of the Academy of Sciences. It preceded the planned reconstruction. Archaeologists examined an area of about 60 square metres.

"Today's building of the Middle Wing was built on both sides of the 12th century Romanesque brick wall that protected Prague Castle from the most accessible, western side. Already in 1948, I. Borkovský found the passage from II. to III. The archaeologists said when they finished their excavations.

The archaeologists said the most significant finds were a part of the rampart fortification with a stone rampart from the 10th and 11th centuries and a moat from the 9th century. It was at that time that the first buildings were constructed on the site where Prague Castle was later built. Archaeologists have uncovered both fortifications.

Just as they were finishing their excavations, they came across the aforementioned engraving. Experts believe it may also depict a building record. It was precisely located in the foundation line of the stone face of the wall, on a convex area of soft limestone. "Although we are not able to identify its meaning, it could be a schematic representation of one of the castle buildings of the time, a construction or other record," archaeologists said at the time.

Archaeologists found only bedrock in the rooms further south from the passage, just below the present floors. "As we know from historical reports, the original terrain was rising in these places and was therefore levelled in the 16th century, before the construction of the present buildings. In doing so, all layers with remains of human activity were excavated," the archaeologists concluded.

Extensive archaeological research was already underway at Prague Castle in the 19th century. In 1824, the tomb of Prince Břetislav II was opened, and the medieval lead authentic from this tomb was eventually transferred to the National Museum.

Sources: Institute of Archaeology, www.ct24.cz, http://abicko.avcr.cz/