Hradiště Na vysokém vrchu Hillfort

Welcome to High Hill. Stop for a moment and let your eyes wander freely through the landscape that is spreading before you. You are standing at an altitude of 400 to nine metres, which guarantees you an extraordinary panoramic view of Central Bohemia. This strategic position is not random. That is why, more than 3,000 years ago, people decided to live here, in this high-rise place that provided them with natural defence and control over the surrounding territory. In front of you is the site of an ancient fortified settlement known as the castle on the high hill. It lies west of the village of Malá Kyšice in Kladno district. Although it may look like a quiet, forested peak today, it is actually a place with a rich and ancient history that goes back to when there were no written records.

Let's move on to the very core of this site. The fort is approximately square and occupies an area of about one and a half hectares. Imagine a square of about 50 meters, which was once surrounded by a solid wall. This wall was not made of bricks or plastered stone, as we might imagine today a fortress. It was constructed from dry laid stones, which means that individual boulders were attached to each other without the use of mortar or other binder. The power of the entire structure consisted of the mass of the stone and its proper arrangement. The wall was approximately two and seventy-five centimeters wide, which is a rather massive dimension. It consisted of an outer and inner wall, probably filled with clay or other rock fragments to form a solid barrier. In the southeast corner of this square, there was an extended bastion, which served as a strengthened point of defense, from which defenders could better monitor the surroundings and respond to possible attacks.

When did this place become home? Archaeologists date the settlement of this castle at the end of the Bronze Age and until the younger period of the Hallatians. These are the epochs that represent a period of great change in our region, the development of agriculture, crafts and the increasing importance of defence structures. The people who lived here were probably farmers and livestock farmers who chose this place for his safety. Unfortunately, the history of this particular settlement is not entirely clear. Given the small number of archaeological findings that have been obtained here, many questions remain without a clear answer. We don't know the names of those who built it, we don't know their precise social status, or what specific events have led to the abandonment or demise of this fortified site. We are linked to the silent stone remains that remain.

The history of the discovery and research of this castle is also interesting. Although people have been on this hill for thousands of years, modern science only took note of it in the twentieth century. In 1961, Dr. Zdeněk Duřina discovered the castle. This discovery was an important step towards understanding the prehistoric settlement in this part of Central Bohemia. Six years later, in 1967, the castle was officially protected as a cultural monument. This was a crucial decision to ensure that this place did not fall into the hands of the mining industry or that it did not destroy the careless. In 1985 a small archaeological research was carried out on this site. Although it was a relatively limited event, it contributed to a better understanding of the structure of the walls and to confirming the date of settlement.

Now pay attention to the surroundings. Even though we are here in a place of such old history, today is a place of peace and quiet. You see no tall towers, no brick palaces, no statues. You see only nature that has returned over the centuries and covered the traces of human activity. Still, imagine what it would look like. Imagine the smoke rising from the fires, the movement of people in leather clothes, the proclamation of an elongated bastion. Imagine the sound of hammers hitting stone forming blocks for the wall. Imagine the life of the entire community in this square space.

One of the greatest mysteries associated with this place is its silence. Why haven't there been any more artifacts? Why does this fort seem so poor for findings compared to other similar locations? There are several possible explanations. One of them is that this was a short-term settlement, perhaps just a temporary refuge in times of danger. Another possibility is that there have been events that have led to a rapid exit without the inhabitants having been able to take their most valuable property with them. Or perhaps this is simply the result of the fact that more extensive excavation work has not been carried out here in the past. Each of these scenarios reminds us of how fragile history's memory is and how easily traces of our ancestors can be lost in time.

Despite these unknown aspects, this place has its own irreplaceable charm. It's where time seems to slow down. Where you can feel the weight of the centuries that have taken place here. Where you can appreciate the wisdom of your ancestors who chose this place for their home. It's a place that invites you to think about what's permanent and what's temporary. The wall of dry-laid stones, which once protected lives, is now a reminder that even the strongest structures can disappear over time. But the memory of them, if we keep it, lives on.

I suggest you enjoy this place in peace. No need to rush. Take a look around, listen to the wind in the trees, feel the cold air, which is often ruled by altitude. Try to imagine how this place would feel if you lived here 3,000 years ago. What would your worries, your joys, your fears? Would you be aware that you are creating a history that will be studied by archaeologists one day?

This castle is just one of many places in the Czech Republic that carry traces of prehistoric civilization. Each one has its own story, its own mystery. If you're interested in how people lived before us, how they built, how they fought back and how they adapted to nature, this place is a great beginning to your journey of knowledge. Don't be afraid to look for more information, read about the Bronze and the Halštat times, visit other archaeological sites. Every new discovery, every new discovery element helps us to write the mosaic of our common past.

Before we say goodbye, I want to thank you for having