Deserted villages of the Strzelin Heights : current state of research and prospects for further studies

The paper presents the results of the recent studies on rural settlements in the northern part of the Strzelin Heights (Wzgórza Strzelińskie). The introduction (parts 1–2) contains facts and remarks regarding history and methodology of archaeological research of the late medieval deserted villages and the state of the corresponding studies conducted in Silesia. The following part 3 contains a brief characteristic of the natural environment and history of the aforementioned area. It also discusses the results of the research held before 1945. Meanwhile, in the part 4 the results of studies and excavations undertaken in the years 2007–2009 on the site no. 3 in Gębczyce were presented, followed by the description of the latest sensational discoveries made between 2013 and 2014 (part 5). The analysis of the recently published digital terrain model (DTM) from airborne laser scanning has revealed the relics of two deserted settlements that can undoubtedly be identified as the villages of Goschwitz and Buchwald, mentioned in documents from 14th century. The remains of Goschwitz are as for today the best preserved of all known deserted villages in Poland. As a result, the 6th part of the paper is an attempt to solve several issues and problems regarding Goschwitz and other deserted villages of the Strzelin Heights, e.g. reconstructing the pattern used to establish the core of the village and the measurement system utilized for this purpose. The discovery of relics of three neighboring late medieval deserted villages is a unique opportunity and a great starting point for further studies which should take form of an interdisciplinary international research project.