Heating System of the Castle in Narzym. Preliminary Attempt at Reconstruction.

Abstract

Excavations in Narzym near Działdowo began in 2003. In the Middle Ages this area belonged to the Teutonic knights state. Within three research seasons an area of 454.55 m2 was excavated (fig. 1). Remains of a stronghold with a stone cylindrical tower from the 2^nd half of the 14^th century and of a castle built in the turn of the 15^th and 16^th centuries (fig. 3) were discovered. For the whole time this seat belonged to private owners what is an absolute exception in the Teutonic knights state. Earlier object was heated probably by a stove of pot tiles (fig. 7). Whereas, in the castle a stove (stoves?) of bowl tiles with square hole (fig. 4a and 4b) functioned, and heating of hypocaustum type, what is testified by and of a fragment of heating hole framing (fig. 6). Hypocaustic heating was relatively popular in the area of the Teutonic knights state, however the functioning of central heating system in magnate’s seat was stated for the first time.