Recepta wciąż aktualna, czyli Janiny Kamińskiej poglądy na metodykę badań średniowiecznych dworów
Recipe still current, that is Janina Kamińska`s views on methodics of research on medieval castles

Summary/Abstract: Janina Kamińska should be recognized as a precursor of modern, fully holistic research on medieval manors in Poland. In her works as the first, she connected conical strongholds with knights` foundations. She also gave characteristic set of formal features of such objects as, which are: a – location in a river valley or on its edge, b – round or close to round view of the foundation of diameter of about 30 m, c – with a hollow or almost flat surface on the top of a truncate cone, d – with a moat and circuitous embankment (not always preserved). In 1978 an article by J. Kamińska was published which was an attempt of recapitulation of earlier research on conical strongholds and critical discussion on research methods and first of all estimation of their published results. With this aim, the author prepared a questionnaire, in which she specifi ed six basic issues that set the knowledge which we should gain as a result of terrain and cameral works in order: 1 – topography; 2 – external shape, 3 – inner construction of the mound; 4 – chronology of the object; 5 – settlement subsidiaries of the stronghold; 6 – information about historical owner (his social, economic and cultural position) and a type of landed property. As a result of the recapitulation, the author stated that merely in 1/3 of published research results, comprehensive information concerning excavated sites can be found. After almost thirty years, I have made a similar attempt at recapitulation; its results are not considerably better. What is most disquieting is that even less than half of the excavated objects have their comprehensive research reports. Likewise as in J. Kamińska`s opinion, also nowadays it appears that relatively most rarely we find in publications answers to questions 3, 5 and 6 of the questionnaire. It also should be emphasized that despite the time, standards of research postulated by J. Kamińska are still actual.

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