P1190319

ACTA UNIVERSITATIS WRATISI.AVIENS1S No 2960 Studi| Archeologiczne XL    Wrocław 2007

SZYDŁOWSKI'

THE KOŚCIAN GROUP OF THE UNĆTICE CULTURE LMHE LIGHT OF LONG-DISTANCE EXCHANGE CONTACTS

fiu paper will altempt to outlinc the structurc of long-distance contacts of i gd group (KG) belonging to the Unćticc culture (UC), specifically to th the most probablc directions of long-distance exchange characteristic :wup, on the basis of diagnostic fcatures.

Tkdbcoveries of the cemetcry in Łęki Małe and the settlement in Brusz-*ert enrcmely significąnt events in the history of the research on the UC iMmlTlie resulls of the research carried out at the sites (as well as the attempts dcntiiy the long-distancc trade-exchange routes ninning across that arca) re-I iaicr in distinguishing another UC group - the Kościan group. Already ' cczyfcki postuiated distinguishing a new group, drawing attention to cultural umofthatarea (Pieczyński 1970: 268-271). However, the Kościan group, iironological sense discusscd below, for the first time appeared in the lit-J1979 (Kośko 1979). The ąuoted author regarded the KG as an important -ruch played a significąnt transitory role between the north (Kujavia) and Silesia and Germany (Kośko 1979).

Kościan group i| regarded a peripheral UC group, manifesting its dis-r>ess cspecially in the classical stage. The KG community was strongly

i    iial. whał is cvidenccd by rich burials in Łęki Małe. A hypotheses has ' Iwoptoposcd. that they have protodynastic character, what may be proved

ii    Imeararrangcmcnt and objcct which had a function of insignia (halberds).

I [j wuconsidered to play a key role in circulation of bronze objects from the

tbe ent, and bronze from the north to the south (Romańska 2000).

: KG occupied an arca of south-west Great Poland (Fig. 1). In physical--r.tcal termy Ihcsc are the regions of the Kościan Plain, the valley of the ibra river and a part of the Sława and Krzywin Lakelands (Krygowski

iiii couim of the hypothetical directions of exchange, which are discusscd • »(letermined on the basis of archaeoiogical sourccs having exogenous

f-K «if Prchiidory, Adam Mickiewicz Univenity. Poznań.