The Issue of Oświęcim Defensive Fortifications as a Result of Archaeological Research Conducted in 2023 and 2024

Abstract

Oświęcim first appeared in historical records in 1179. In 1284, a mayor was mentioned, which may indicate that the town already possessed town privileges. Its development accelerated when, following the division of the Cieszyn demesne, it became the seat of Prince Władysław in 1316.

Scholars speculate that Oświęcim may once have been encircled by defensive walls, though the surviving sources are scarce and ambiguous. In 1563, a special liquor excise tax was imposed, intended for the completion of the brick perimeter, and the work was still in progress in 1572. A map from 1563, Ducatus Oswieczensis et Zatoriensis, depicts Oświęcim as enclosed by walls with towers rising above them, while the gatehouses contained single-room chambers above the passageways.

Although no remains of the brick fortifications have yet been discovered, fragments of the town moat have been identified in several locations. The moat is thought to have been about 6 metres wide and 1.5 metres deep. According to A. Przybylok’s hypothetical reconstruction of the defensive perimeter, they should be expected along Sienkiewicza Street, outside the area of “our” investment. Przybylok also suggested that, in order to reduce earthworks, natural watercourses and slopes were often utilised in Upper Silesian urban centres – probably including Oświęcim – when constructing moats.

The archaeological findings raise two key questions. The first concerns the actual extent of the medieval town. The moat functioned not only as a defensive structure but also as a boundary demarcating an area governed by different laws than the surrounding non-urban land, which was likely used for agriculture, horticulture, or animal husbandry. These divisions persisted even after the moat had been filled in, as shown by the path or street marked on maps from 1845 and 1884. The second question is whether Oświęcim ever possessed a complete brick defensive circuit. The town is situated on a hill, rising more than 10 metres above the surrounding terrain. It is therefore possible that the fortifications were limited to the gateways, while the moat and the natural elevation provided sufficient protection for the inhabitants.