Średniowieczna broń palna w Polsce: studium archeologiczne
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| 1. Verfasser: | |
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| Format: | Buch |
| Sprache: | Polish |
| Veröffentlicht: |
Łódź
Wydawnictwo Instytutu Archeologii i Etnologii PAN
2011
|
| Schlagworte: | |
| Online-Zugang: | Rezension Inhaltsverzeichnis Abstract |
| Beschreibung: | Zsfassung in engl. Sprache u.d.T.: Medieval firearms in Poland |
| Beschreibung: | 277 s. il. (gł. kolor.). - Ill., graph. Darst., Kt. 24 cm. |
| ISBN: | 9788389499820 |
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| 245 | 1 | 0 | |a Średniowieczna broń palna w Polsce |b studium archeologiczne |c Piotr Strzyż |
| 264 | 1 | |a Łódź |b Wydawnictwo Instytutu Archeologii i Etnologii PAN |c 2011 | |
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| 336 | |b txt |2 rdacontent | ||
| 337 | |b n |2 rdamedia | ||
| 338 | |b nc |2 rdacarrier | ||
| 500 | |a Zsfassung in engl. Sprache u.d.T.: Medieval firearms in Poland | ||
| 648 | 7 | |a Geschichte 1383-1525 |2 gnd |9 rswk-swf | |
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Datensatz im Suchindex
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| adam_text |
SPIS TREŚCI
I.
Wstęp
. 5
1.1
Clii. PRACY
. 5
1.2
Zakres chronologiczny i terytorialny pracy
. 6
1.3
Stan badań nad początkami broni palnej w Polsce
. 7
1.4
Charakterystyka materiału zabytkowego
. 10
I.4.a Zabytki broni palnej
. 10
I.4.b Pociski broni palnej
. 12
II.
Średniowieczne zabytki broni palnej w polskich zbiorach
. 15
II.
1
Ręczna broń palna
. 15
ILI.a
Piszczele
. 15
II.
1.
b
Hakownice
. 21
II.
1.
с
Zabytki zachowane fragmentarycznie
. 26
11.
2
Ciężka broń palna
. 30
II.
2.
a Broń komorowa
. 30
II.
2.
b Bombardy
(murołomy)
. 33
II.2.C Armaty
. 38
11.3
Zabytki o niepewnej chronologii
. 41
III. Amunicja broni palnej
. 49
111.1 Pociski ręcznej broni palnej
. 49
ULI.a Pociski kamienne
. 49
III.l.
b
Pociski ołowiane
. 50
III.l.
с
Pociski żelazne
. 52
III.l.
d
Pociski szklane
. 53
III.l.
e
Pociski gliniane
. 55
111.
2
Amunicja artyleryjska
. 59
III.
2
a Kule kamienne
. 59
III. 2.b Kule ołowiane
. 70
III. 2.C Kule żelazne
. 71
IV.
Archeologia a historia, czyli znaleziska
kul
w świetle dostępnych źródeł
. 77
IV.1
Działania wojenne
. 77
IV.2
Piwnice i zbrojownie
. 112
V.
Podsumowanie i perspektywy badawcze
. 119
VI.
Katalog
. 121
VII.
Bibliografia
. 193
VIII.
Aneks (Dr Piotr Czubla)
. 209
IX.
Spis ilustracji
. 213
X.
Tablice
. 217
XL
Mapy
. 261
Indeks nazw osobowych i miejscowości
. 265
Streszczenie
. 269
Medieval firearms in Poland. An archaeological study
This work aimed at gathering and carrying out a detailed analysis of original finds
of firearms stored in Polish collections or related to the Polish military. In order to broaden
the source basis, we also discussed the issue of ammunition for these firearms. In Poland
the beginnings of use of firearms are related to the mention from the Chronicle of
Janko
of
Czarnków
from
1383.
We took the
1st
decade of the 16th
с
as the closing period for our
discussion. At that time, a reform of artillery initiated by King
Zygmunt
I introduced modern
cannons which launched iron balls. The territorial scope of the work is the present territory
of Poland. This results from significant changes of the borders of the Kingdom of Poland
in the
2nd
half of the 14th and the entire 15th c. Due to this, all specimens from scientific
institutions within the country were gathered, in spite of the fact that these specimens may be
of various origin.
Chapter
2 -
Medieval specimens of firearms in Polish collections
-
discusses finds of
both firearms and artillery in Polish collections. For the medieval period, hand-held firearms
were represented by
piszczel handgonnes
and hackbuts. In this work, we consider
piszczel
handgonnes (literally
-
tibia, the name comes from the shape of the barrel, resembling a bone)
as the most primitive barrels of hand-held firearms, which were fixed in a hollow in a stock
using metal bands or were attached to a wooden stock using a bushing. As such weapons
represent the initial stage of the development of this type of arms, they are remarkable
by a variety of shapes and proportions.
The earliest and the smallest specimen of hand-held firearms in Poland was found
in the course of works in
Kalisz.
This item regrettably comes from mixed layers, which
renders it impossible to precise its chronology based on the cultural context. This weapon was
made of bronze. The total length is
5.7
cm and the calibre is
1.3
cm. The time of deposition
of the item is related to the conflict between the Grzymala and the
Nałęcz
nobility clans, i.e.,
the 1380s. Obviously, it cannot be excluded that the weapon was lost in completely peaceful
circumstances. Bearing in mind its small size, it was probably not too difficult.
The developmental form of the
piszczel
handgonne in the shape of a longer round or
polygonal barrel provided with a bushing to attach a wooden stock (which fulfilled the role
of a primitive butt) is represented by two specimens in our collection. The first one is the
barrel found in the 19th
с
during the works conducted in the Curonian Spit in the locality
of
Schwarzort
near Klaipeda. It was cast of bronze, with its total length being
44.5
cm and
the diameter varying from
1.6
to
1.7
cm. The barrel is octagonal with a thickening at the
muzzle. The touch hole is placed vertically on the top. Around it there is a hollowing which
fulfils the role of a priming pan for gunpowder. The wooden stock is
54
cm long and is made
of oak. Inside it there is a bored hollow containing a wooden ramrod. The present total length
of the relic is
99,05
cm with the weight of
2.58
kg.
Another hitherto unknown specimen is stored at the Museum in
Lębork.
This relic
is remarkable for its bronze cast barrel which is round in its cross-section. Its total length
is
51.1
cm and the calibre is
1.65
cm. The total weight of the weapon (including the stock)
is now
4.3
kg.
At the present stage of research the dating of the specimens from the Curonian Spit and
Lębork
(late 14th
c-mid-loth c.)
seems to be well-founded in sources. On the other hand,
based on our observations of gathered specimens of hackbuts with barrels with octagonal
cross-sections which were bronze cast and undoubtedly come from the
2nd
half of the 15th
c, a longer period of use of Gothic-shaped
piszczel
handgonnes can be assumed. Specimens
269
from the Curonian Spit and
Lębork
are two variations of
piszczel handgonnes
from the 15th
с
The former is characterised by the octagonal cross-section of the barrel and the latter
-
by
the round cross-section.
We defined hackbuts as long hand-held firearms with barrels with round or polygonal
cross-sections and with added hooks, which were directed down at a right angle. Their role
was to amortise the recoil of firearms.
The source basis for hackbuts in Polish collections is also modest. The catalogue
comprises only seven completely preserved specimens. Probably the oldest find of this kind
comes from the
1st
half of the 15th
с
and was discovered in Lviv
(Lwów).
The hackbut was
cast of bronze and the cross-section of the barrel is octagonal. The total length of the gun
is
62.0
cm with the calibre being
1.9
cm. In its bottom part there is a touch hole which is
directed vertically. Near the touch hole there is a foundry mark of two small lions rampant.
It is of interest that another identical hackbut is stored at present at the Museum of the Polish
Army in
Warszawa.
This weapon is not only identical in its dimensions (total length
62
cm,
calibre
1.9
cm), but it also has the same proportions and manufacturer's marks of two small
lions. In this case we have to do with rare specimens which possibly come from the workshop
of the same manufacturer. This testifies to the fact that contemporary Lviv founders already
mastered the manufacturing technology to such a degree that they were capable of casting
weapons in multiple item standardised series in their moulds.
The specimen presently stored at the National Museum in
Kraków
is very similar to
hackbuts from the Lviv workshop with regard to its appearance. Analogously to the Lviv
specimens, the
Kraków
item was also bronze cast, having the shape of an octagonal column
with walls shifted from one another. There is a vertically placed touch hole in the bottom part
of the gun. The calibre of the barrel is
1.7
cm, its length is
50.3
cm and the weight is
4.69
kg.
Due to their particular shape of the octagonal column, the Lviv and the
Kraków
guns are dated
to the
1st
half of the 15th c, but their use in the
2nd
half of this century cannot be excluded.
The next two specimens of hackbuts are remarkable for minor construction changes,
as the touch holes were placed on the side walls. Both guns are stored now at the collection
of the Museum of the Polish Army in
Warszawa.
The barrel of the first one was made of iron
sheet. Its total length is
92
cm, with the calibre being
2.7
cm and the weight being
11
kg. This
weapon is remarkable for the touch hole being placed at the right side, in order to facilitate
aiming. The other hackbut is of interest. Analogously to the former one, it is iron forged and
has the octagonal cross-section. The total length of the weapon is
84.5
cm with the weight
being
7.8
kg and the calibre being
2.4
cm. The touch hole in the shape of a small hollowing
is slightly moved to the side. This specimen was ornamented
-
there is an illegible heraldic
field near the bottom and there is a mark of a double circle with a six-pointed star. Both
relics possibly come from the
2nd
half of the
1
5th
с
As a conclusion of the discussion on
medieval hackbuts in Polish collections, one has to mention two iron specimens discovered in
the course of archaeological excavations in
Chełm
in
Plac Władysława Łuczkowskiego.
Both
were found in a hollowing or a niche of a wall, where they may have been stored. These are
barrels with octagonal cross-sections. The one survived in a good condition while the other
is broken into some pieces. These relics undergo conservation now, which is why it is not
possible to describe them in detail. They perhaps come from the 15th c, but a more precise
assessment of their chronology should be made after complete research results are available.
Apart from these few specimens of
piszczel
handgonnes and hackbuts which survived
in whole, we also have an assemblage of four fragments of hand-held firearms of undefined
kind. It is important that they were usually acquired in the course of planned archaeological
270
works. Thanks to this, we can determine their chronology in a more precise way. Broken
fragments of barrels come from the castles:
Wenecja
near
Żnin
(1435-1470),
Karpień
in Silesia
(1st
half of the 15th c); two fragments, one of bronze and the other of iron, are
known from
Muszyna
(4th quarter of the
1
5th c). Their calibres vary from
1.4
cm
(Karpień)
via
2.0-2.2
cm
(Wenecja)
to
2.1
and
3.0
cm in the case of
Muszyna
finds. It is worth adding
that the fragment of the barrel from
Karpień
underwent metallographic examinations. It was
found out that the main components of the alloy were copper (c.
83%),
lead (c.
10%),
tin
(c.
1.5 %)
and nickel (c.
1.8%).
Such a numerous presence of broken parts of barrels from the
14th-the 15th
с
at archaeological sites makes one consider their quality and safety of their
use. Considerable unreliability of bronze handgonnes may be suggested by the low quality
of manufacture of preserved examples and by numerous instances of unskilled use of these
new weapons.
Artillery in the assemblage in question is represented by three categories only:
veuglaires, bombards and early modern cannons. Chamber guns in the discussed period
are represented by veuglaires. These were mostly iron guns, which were breech-loading
using a special portable powder chamber which was additionally tightened to the barrel with
a wooden or metal wedge. Their advantage was a greater rate of fire (it was possible to load
several chambers in advance), achieved at the cost of technical imperfection, i.e., the escape
of powder gases at the connection between the chamber and the barrel. This imperfection
resulted in a gradual decline of use of such guns.
In the course of the query we encountered two specimens at the Museum of the
Polish Army in
Warszawa
which may be related to this category. These are iron chambers
made by forging. The first one (the larger one) is
19.0
cm long and its outlet diameter is
2.7
cm. The chamber has a vertically placed touch hole, to the left from the holder, which
is why it is slightly moved sideways in relation to its axis. The present weight of the relic
is
1.88
kg. The other chamber (the smaller one) is
15.6
cm long and its outlet diameter is
с
2.1
cm. The touch hole is also situated to the left from the holder. The present weight of
the specimen is
0.87
kg.
These metrical data clearly demonstrate that we have to do with relatively small
chambers which were used for small calibre weapons
(3.0-4.0
cm) with round or polygonal
barrels. Due to a considerable weight of the weapon, a prop in the shape of a fork-like holder
was often used. We define the chronology of these two specimens as the
2nd
half of the 15th
-the
lsthalfofthelóthc.
Bombards in the 14th and the
1
5th c. are referred to as cannons with a narrower breech
(chamber) part and a wider muzzle part. They were forged of iron bars or cast of bronze and
were attached to a wooden base using metal bands. The only specimen of this kind in Polish
collections is the bombard discovered in the ruins of the Teutonic castle in
Kurzętnik.
Its
barrel was cast of bronze and it has two distinct parts: the wider muzzle part and the narrower
chamber part. The touch hole is protected with a priming pan. The barrel is provided with
one holder in the shape of a thickly braided rope. It is situated at the contact point of the
breech and the muzzle parts. The total length of the bombard is
50.7
cm, the muzzle calibre
is
13.5
cm and the powder chamber's internal diameter is
4.3
cm. The weight is more than
42
kg. The specimen is remarkable for its rich ornament. At the muzzle there is a depiction
of the Holy Virgin with Child, sitting on the throne. It is typical for the representation of the
Holy Virgin from the
2nd
half of the 14th
с
The priming pan was made with equal care. It has
the shape of a broad flattened stem, ending with two quadruple leaves. Their Gothic shape
and bosses are typical for the 14th
с
and they were made precisely and very artistically.
271
Based on the ornament of the relic and the history of the castle in
Kurzętnik
the specimen is
to be related to the military of the Teutonic Order and the cannon itself is dated to the early
15th c, most probably before
1414.
There is a close relation between the
Kurzętnik
specimen and archaeological works
at the Fore-Castle of the castle in
Malbork.
They led not only to the partial identification of
architecture related to the medieval foundry, but also yielded relics related to this process. The
most interesting finds are remains of casting moulds used in the process of barrel manufacture.
About
300
clay fragments were acquired altogether, often with metallic gatherings and more
than
1300
sherds of clay and metal, defined as remains of clay-metal moulds. Furthermore,
lumps of rubble of greenish colour were found, which testifies to high copper contents.
Conservation procedures led to the reconstruction of some larger fragments of clay moulds,
so that it became possible to define the diameter of barrels of cannons made at
Malbork.
The received values oscillate between
33
and
43
cm. The thickness of acquired elements
is
3-5.5
cm. Their remarkable shape testifies to the fact that cast barrels were of cylindrical
shape, i.e., they were precisely of the shape of the earliest cannons. The reconstructed
fragments are characterised by multi-layerness of their walls and smooth internal surfaces,
which testifies to the fact that they adjoined to smooth metal surfaces. They are porous and
cracked on their internal sides and their coatings did not survive.
3-4
mm hollows were noted
on some of them
-
these may have been made by round rims on cast objects. These rims may
have had strengthening or only decorative functions. In the cross-sections of discussed sherds
individual layers of clay and impressions of grass are well notable. Grass was twined around
the moulds to secure proper gas exchange when the metal was poured into the prepared
construction. Apart of remains of purely clay forms also such sherds were found, where
the first internal layer
(1-1.5
cm thick) was composed of metal. Analyses of the chemical
composition of these sherds demonstrated high tin contents
(49-68%).
Analogously to the first
group, their external surfaces are smooth and a layer of grey burnt clay adhered to them from
outside. This layer was analogous to that in the first group of discussed remains of moulds. In
one case the external diameter of the product was identified, being c.
35
cm. Reconstructed
external diameters of moulds
(33-43
cm) enable the researcher to approximately identify
the diameter of manufactured cannons. Assuming the average thickness of the barrel wall as
с
5
cm, we would receive the cannon calibre of
23-33
cm, i.e., bombards of average size.
The end period of our interest, i.e., the late 15th and the early 16th c, is represented by
the cannon barrel which was ploughed up in the
1
9th
с
in Lithuania in the locality of Podbory.
It is stored now at the State Collection of Art at
Wawel.
It has a cylindrical shape, with two
horizontal trunnions in the mid-length. In the breech part there is a touch hole, and the very
bottom ends with a cuboid solid. There are the following decorative elements: two heraldic
shields
-
of the Crown of Poland with the Eagle and of Lithuania with the Vytis
(Pogoń)
and
the date
1506.
The total length of the barrel is
202
cm, with the calibre being
16.6
cm and
the weight being
с
640
kg. This barrel demonstrates new trends in the development of Polish
artillery. The remarkable feature are two trunnions, which enabled the barrel to be mounted on
a wall carriage. Some difficulty is posed by a proper classification of this specimen. However,
based on its general proportions it can be classified as a battering cannon, a so-called carthaun.
It possibly corresponds to a so-called
Quartana
with a cannon ball weight of
25
pounds, which
was the last and the smallest category for such battering cannons.
In our work we also discussed some barrels which needed not to be related to the
medieval period. This particularly concerns three hackbuts from
Biecz
which have hitherto
been dated to the 15th
с
in previous scholarship. Based on comparative material from Central
272
Europe
and available
iconographie
sources, we rather shifted their date to the 16th-17th c,
but still referring to them as hackbuts. In the further part of the work two cannon barrels
from
Biecz
and two small calibre cannons from the Diocesan Museum in
Płock
were also
discussed. They can be dated to the ISth-the first half of the 16th c, but unknown history
of their provenance makes us be very careful. At the present stage of research it cannot be
excluded that they are modern period replicas.
Chapter
3
discusses the history of ammunition for firearms. The ammunition belongs
to such relics which are acquired in great quantities in the course of field examinations. On
the other hand, they are to a great degree neglected and they are rarely discussed in scholarly
works. We divided the discussed ammunition into two groups, i.e., hand-held firearms
ammunition
(104
specimens) and the other by far more numerous group of cannon balls. We
gathered
1108
specimens of the latter. The definition which divides hand-held firearms from
artillery is not established in a steadfast manner. For the needs of this work we assumed the
value of
3.5
cm as the line of division.
We subdivided the assemblage of hand-held firearms ammunition into stone bullets,
lead bullets, iron bullets, glass bullets and clay bullets, based on the applied raw material.
Stone bullets were made of various rocks: sandstone or granite. The most numerous
assemblages of bullets were acquired in the course of research at two sites: the castles in Puck
and in
Wenecja
near
Żnin.
Granite bullets from
Wenecja
have the diameters between
15
and
20
mm, while sandstone bullets' diameters are
22
and
34
mm. They are dated to
1435-1475.
Numerous bullets were gathered in the course of research at the castle in Puck, in the western
moat and the castle's masonry house. Their diameters are
16.7,18.7,21.0,22.3
and
27.4
mm,
with their weight being
6, 8, 10, 12
and
34
g
respectively. Their chronology encompasses
the beginning of the
2nd
half of the 15th
с
Both in the case of bullets from
Wenecja
and
Puck it must be underlined that most of them have very well smoothened surfaces, which no
question supported their use for hand-held firearms. Stone bullets were gathered in a smaller
quantity in the course of archaeological examinations in
Gniezno.
These are specimens with
diameters of
14.5, 19, 24
and
25
mm and they can be dated to the 15th
с
They also have
smoothened surfaces. The next three specimens which are of interest for us are known from
examinations in the Market Square in
Krosno.
Their diameters are
18, 20
and
21
mm, with
their weight being
7
and
10
g. The chronological framework of their use is the
2nd
half of the
Hth-the early 16th
с
Bullets from the castle in
Drawsko Pomorskie
were made of sandstone.
Their calibres are
22, 27, 30, 31
and
33
mm. Next, a bullet which was carved of rock comes
from the estate of the nobility clan of Doliwa in
Nowe Miasto nad Wartą.
Its diameter is
22
mm and it is dated to the
2nd
half of the 14th
с
The popularity of use of bullets made
of various rocks was no question influenced by their low price, as necessary raw material
was commonly available in each part of the country and it required neither costly mining or
transportation.
It is intriguing that lead bullets are not as widespread in the material we gathered as it
could be concluded from mentions in written sources. Only two specimens with diameters
of
15
and
15.5
mm and the weight of
17
g
each are known from the frequently mentioned
castle in
Wenecja.
Next
6
specimens are known from Puck. Their diameters are
11.0, 11.7,
15.4-15.5
and
18.4
mm, with their weight being
9, 10, 14
and
19
g
respectively. Specimens
from examinations in
Krosno
and
Sanok
have a broad chronological framework of use, i.e.,
the
2nd
half of the 14th-the early 16th
с
Their diameters are
16-17
mm with their weight
being
25
and
26
mm. Further two specimens were recorded in the course of examinations
of the castle in
Bardo.
Their diameters are
17
and
14
mm, with their weight being
25.82
273
and
18.21
g
respectively. They perhaps come from the
1st
half of the 15th
с
The already
mentioned curiosity is an iron bullet with the diameter of
13
mm, which got stuck in the
barrel of the
piszczel handgonne
from
Kalisz.
Iron bullets are the third most numerous group. They are modestly represented in
the material from the Puck castle, with only two specimens being known. Their diameters
are
13.2
and
16
mm and their weight is
7
and
9
g. The technology of their manufacture is
demonstrated by traces of hammering. Another iron bullet was discovered in the course
of research at the castle in
Drawsko Pomorskie.
A well-datable assembly comes from the
examinations of the castle in
Muszyna.
In the layers related to the Hungarian invasion of
1474 5
such specimens were found. One has the diameter of
15
mm, while others have the
diameters of
21
mm.
Glass bullets are such a kind of ammunition whose application provokes a debate
among students of arms and armour in Poland.
Czesław Sikorski
was the first scholar who
assumed a possibility of their use for firearms. He discovered some specimens of that kind
at the castle in
Wenecja,
in the layers dated to
1435-1475.
Their diameters are
11, 13, 15
and
16
mm, with their weight being merely
3-4
g. It seems that the question is eventually
solved by finds from excavations at the castle in Puck. Out of a total number of
48
hand-held
firearms bullets, as many as
35
are specimens made of green glass. Their weight oscillates
in a narrow scope of
3-4
g. The smallest bullet has the diameter of
13
mm and the largest
one
- 18.1
mm. The cultural context, i.e., the western moat and the north-western corner
of the castle's masonry house, as well as the presence of stone, lead and iron bullets in
the layers enables the researcher to consider these bullets as used by the troops of
Gdańsk
during the siege of the Puck castle in
1464.
Their dimensions testify to the fact that they were
rather used for lighter firearms, such as
piszczel handgonnes
and hackbuts. Furthermore,
the find of a green glass bullet from the battlefield of
Grunwald
is worth mentioning.
Its diameter is
14
mm.
As in the case of glass bullets, there is an ongoing debate on the possibility of efficient
shooting with medieval firearms using clay bullets. The first specimen of this kind with
the diameter of
17
mm is known from the research on the defensive fortification system at
Wenecja.
Another discovery
ofthat
sort was made soon thereafter, as a specimen with the
diameter of
22.4
mm was discovered in the Fields of
Grunwald.
Significant data are provided
with regard to that by examinations in
Jemiołów,
where remains of a stone donjon were
discovered. Outside them, near the entrance a clay bullet with the diameter of
39
mm was
discovered. Its weight is
58
g, it is flattened with the impact of the strike and it is blackened
with smoke. The functioning of the donjon was referred to the late 14th-the early 16th
с
Based on this it can be supposed that during hostilities in
Jemiołów
a terrace gun was used,
which launched a clay projectile. In the light of gathered material it seems that a possibility
of using clay bullets for firearms is to be assumed.
Artillery ammunition was divided into three assemblages, which consist of stone, lead
and iron balls. Balls made of material generally referred to as stone constitute a majority of
recorded specimens of ammunition. Out of
1108
gathered specimens, as many as
1097
belong
to this group. The assortment of applied raw material was very broad, but various kinds of
granite were eagerly used. Differences concern both the colour of the rock (grey, pink-grey,
beige-grey, pink) and the density (from
2350
to
2750
kg/m3). Its popularity was influenced
by its easy availability in the northern and the central parts of Poland. The most numerous
finds from this area comprise cannon ball collections from
Malbork, Elbląg, Toruń,
Reszel,
Brodnica, Kwidzyn, Człuchów
or
Grudziądz.
274
Cannon balls were also made of sedimentary rocks, such as sandstone or limestone.
Such rocks are characterised both by lower density (from
600
to
2300
kg/m3) and lower
resistibility to strikes. Thus, the ammunition with the same diameter as that made of granite
has a lower weight and resistibility to breaking. The percentage of balls made of sedimentary
rocks is considerable and it includes
350
specimens in the discussed collection, which is more
than
30.0%
of the assemblage. Such balls are often encountered in Silesia, but a considerable
concentration can also be noted in Lesser Poland and in central Poland.
Based on the numerous assemblage of stone balls in the Catalogue, we attempted at
classifying the material with regard to the calibre. While maintaining the division of the
ammunition into three groups, we would change their criteria, again pointing out three
groups. The first one comprises balls with the calibre of
3.5-12.0
cm, the second
- 12.0-
25.0
cm and the third one
- 25.0
to over
50
cm. Obviously, this proposed division should
not be applied rigorously, as the size limits were surely understood in a quite different way
in the Middle Ages. They were related to generally understood sizes, such as a fist, a human
head or a bucket.
In Polish collections there is only one cannon ball which was made as a uniform lead
cast. It was found in the western moat of the castle in Puck, in the layers dated to the
2nd
half
of the 15th
с
Its calibre is
67
mm, with the weight being
1.498
kg and it was used as terrace
gun ammunition. It was cast in a stone or clay mould. We also ranked the specimen from the
castle in
Barwałd-Góra Żary
among the group of lead balls. It is an example of a lead-iron
ball, where the iron core was covered with lead. This specimen is dated to the 4th quarter of
the 15th
с
The third variant which documents the variety of manufacturing techniques of
lead ammunition is represented by the find from the castle in Ogrodzieniec. Its diameter is
4.7
cm and it has a stone core.
In the Middle Ages iron balls were commonly used for shooting with smaller cannons.
A material proof of the presence of such ammunition in the territory of Poland is the find
from the castle of
Barwałd-Góra Żary.
The iron projectile has the diameter of
6.6-7.6
cm and
its present weight is
1.5
kg. It was forged of iron, which is clearly notable on its external
surface, both in traces of hammering and first of all in the irregularity of the shape. Another
specimen is known from archaeological works at the castle in
Muszyna.
Its diameter is
4.8
cm and it was deposed in the layers related to the Hungarian invasion in
1474.
Forging of balls was replaced with casting in the course of time. In this case we have
one specimen, i.e., a projectile found during the examinations of the seat of a robber-knight
Czarny Krzysztof (Krzysztof
the Black) in Olszanica in Silesia. His fortified residence was
attacked by burgher troops from
Złotoryja,
which seized and destroyed his residence on
25
September
1512.
The diameter of the ball is
8.1
cm and the weight is
2.156
kg.
An overview of types of ammunition used in the discussed territory in the Middle
Ages enables us to state that practically all kinds of raw materials were used. Projectiles were
most commonly made of granite, but alternatively they were also manufactured of sandstone
or limestone. Archaeological sources also testify to the use of such raw materials as lead and
iron, but the lack of a more considerable number of finds surely does not render the actual
situation. A more diversified assortment of raw materials was used for the manufacture of
projectiles to hand-held firearms. Apart from lead, stone and iron, glass and clay were also
used.
The last chapter is an attempt at correlating chronologically well-defined assemblages
of projectiles and historical events which accompanied their deposition. In order for the
relics to be of maximum use for such an analysis, it is necessary for them to have precisely
275
defined find places and cultural contexts. These are discoveries related to well-datable
military activities (sieges) and finds acquired in the course of examinations of masonry
objects, within which projectiles were discovered in the context of rooms interpreted as
town hall cellars or castle armouries. We did such a comparison with regard to military
conflicts which are well-depicted in sources. More significant ones are surely the war
between
Władysław Jagiełło
and Duke
Władysław Opolczyk
(1391-1396),
the battle of
Grunwald
and the subsequent siege of
Malbork
(1410),
the sieges of
Chojnice
(1433
and
1454)
or military activities in Lesser Poland
(Muszyna
1474,
Barwałd
1477)
and in Silesia
(Bardo, Gniewoszów
in the lst-the
2nd
quarter of the 15th c). These cases inform us not
only about the kinds of used ammunition, hand-held firearms and artillery, but they also
enable us to trace, e.g., the bombardment technique. The hostilities at
Malbork
in
1410
are
a good example of this.
From the point of view of our research, finds from objects referred to as armouries or
arsenals, as it is the case with, e.g.,
Elbląg,
Reszel,
Inowrocław, Wenecja
or
Człuchów,
are
significant. Based on well-documented assemblages of projectiles the following conclusions
can be drawn. First of all, based on the parameters of ammunition, it is possible to reconstruct
the firepower of attacking or defending troops. This concerns not only artillery, but obviously
also hand-held firearms. Another opportunity is a possibility of completing the information
known from historical sources with new data, concerning, e.g., kinds of raw materials which
were used for the manufacture of artillery and hand-held firearms projectiles. Thirdly,
assemblages acquired from cellars and armouries enable us to better learn about the calibre
assortment of armament of fortresses, assess their firepower and costs related to equipping
a given object with such weapons.
In the Summary we said that the discussed assemblage of archaeological finds related
to the use of early firearms in Poland enabled us to draw several conclusions. Original
examples of firearms are still rare, in spite of the fact that their number has recently increased
in a significant manner, especially concerning hand-held firearms. A low representativeness
of the assemblage does not permit, however, to make binding generalisations concerning
their evolution. The case of artillery is similar, with only two certain specimens being known.
We acquired a better degree of cognition when analysing the abundant assemblage of
ammunition, which is more than
1200
strong. It seems to be representative enough to enable
us to formulate credible conclusions. Contemporary artillery ammunition was dominated
by stone balls, usually granite ones. Sandstone balls are also quite widespread. Apart from
them, lead and iron projectiles also appear, although their occurrence is rather occasional.
In the case of ammunition for hand-held firearms, it was possible to find out that apart from
commonly known raw materials, such as lead and iron, stone, glass and even clay were also
of considerable popularity. In the case of the two latter ones, there has been no agreement so
far in scholarship concerning their military application.
New ways of studying medieval firearms are opened while attempting at correlating
gathered archaeological finds having well-documented contexts with historical sources.
In such case the acquired items are not merely anonymous artefacts, but their acquire
a broader cognitive context and they enable us to see the problem of early firearms through
the eyes of their users. They offer us not only the testimony for a variety of used equipment
and ammunition, but they also depict everyday problems of transport, use or acquisition
of materials which were necessary for efficient operation of firearms.
The development of modern research and documentation techniques of monuments of
late medieval architecture in the Polish lands makes us hope not only for a further increase
276
in the source basis, but first of all for the increase in groups of such specimens related
with medieval firearms which are well-defined with regard to their context.
Metallographic
examinations of surviving items will also be of considerable significance. Regrettably, such
examinations were not possible in the present work due to scarcity of means. They would
enable us to define the chemical composition of alloys used for the manufacture of barrels
and to trace the ways of acquisition of raw materials or purchases of ready equipment.
277 |
| any_adam_object | 1 |
| author | Strzyż, Piotr |
| author_facet | Strzyż, Piotr |
| author_role | aut |
| author_sort | Strzyż, Piotr |
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| building | Verbundindex |
| bvnumber | BV039867145 |
| ctrlnum | (OCoLC)780108988 (DE-599)BVBBV039867145 |
| era | Geschichte 1383-1525 gnd |
| era_facet | Geschichte 1383-1525 |
| format | Book |
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| geographic | Polen (DE-588)4046496-9 gnd |
| geographic_facet | Polen |
| id | DE-604.BV039867145 |
| illustrated | Illustrated |
| indexdate | 2024-10-18T18:09:26Z |
| institution | BVB |
| isbn | 9788389499820 |
| language | Polish |
| oai_aleph_id | oai:aleph.bib-bvb.de:BVB01-024726563 |
| oclc_num | 780108988 |
| open_access_boolean | |
| owner | DE-12 |
| owner_facet | DE-12 |
| physical | 277 s. il. (gł. kolor.). - Ill., graph. Darst., Kt. 24 cm. |
| publishDate | 2011 |
| publishDateSearch | 2011 |
| publishDateSort | 2011 |
| publisher | Wydawnictwo Instytutu Archeologii i Etnologii PAN |
| record_format | marc |
| spelling | Strzyż, Piotr Verfasser aut Średniowieczna broń palna w Polsce studium archeologiczne Piotr Strzyż Łódź Wydawnictwo Instytutu Archeologii i Etnologii PAN 2011 277 s. il. (gł. kolor.). - Ill., graph. Darst., Kt. 24 cm. txt rdacontent n rdamedia nc rdacarrier Zsfassung in engl. Sprache u.d.T.: Medieval firearms in Poland Geschichte 1383-1525 gnd rswk-swf Archäologie (DE-588)4002827-6 gnd rswk-swf Feuerwaffe (DE-588)4017012-3 gnd rswk-swf Polen (DE-588)4046496-9 gnd rswk-swf Polen (DE-588)4046496-9 g Feuerwaffe (DE-588)4017012-3 s Archäologie (DE-588)4002827-6 s Geschichte 1383-1525 z DE-604 https://www.recensio.net/r/c4105c01df1d42f8b0850e111581de81 rezensiert in: Jahrbuch des Bundesinstituts für Kultur und Geschichte der Deutschen im östlichen Europa, 20 (2012), S. 646 Rezension Digitalisierung BSB Muenchen 2 application/pdf http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&local_base=BVB01&doc_number=024726563&sequence=000002&line_number=0001&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA Inhaltsverzeichnis Digitalisierung BSB Muenchen 2 application/pdf http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&local_base=BVB01&doc_number=024726563&sequence=000004&line_number=0002&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA Abstract |
| spellingShingle | Strzyż, Piotr Średniowieczna broń palna w Polsce studium archeologiczne Archäologie (DE-588)4002827-6 gnd Feuerwaffe (DE-588)4017012-3 gnd |
| subject_GND | (DE-588)4002827-6 (DE-588)4017012-3 (DE-588)4046496-9 |
| title | Średniowieczna broń palna w Polsce studium archeologiczne |
| title_auth | Średniowieczna broń palna w Polsce studium archeologiczne |
| title_exact_search | Średniowieczna broń palna w Polsce studium archeologiczne |
| title_full | Średniowieczna broń palna w Polsce studium archeologiczne Piotr Strzyż |
| title_fullStr | Średniowieczna broń palna w Polsce studium archeologiczne Piotr Strzyż |
| title_full_unstemmed | Średniowieczna broń palna w Polsce studium archeologiczne Piotr Strzyż |
| title_short | Średniowieczna broń palna w Polsce |
| title_sort | sredniowieczna bron palna w polsce studium archeologiczne |
| title_sub | studium archeologiczne |
| topic | Archäologie (DE-588)4002827-6 gnd Feuerwaffe (DE-588)4017012-3 gnd |
| topic_facet | Archäologie Feuerwaffe Polen |
| url | https://www.recensio.net/r/c4105c01df1d42f8b0850e111581de81 http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&local_base=BVB01&doc_number=024726563&sequence=000002&line_number=0001&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&local_base=BVB01&doc_number=024726563&sequence=000004&line_number=0002&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT strzyzpiotr sredniowiecznabronpalnawpolscestudiumarcheologiczne |