Combined Approach to Locate Medieval Fortified Manor Houses in Central Moravia (the Czech Republic)

ABSTRACT

A systematic prospection of medieval fortified manor houses (FMHs) in Central Moravia (Czech Republic) was conducted with the aim of mapping their distribution and facilitating both further scholarly research and more effective heritage protection by responsible institutions. Given the inherent limitations of individual investigative techniques, a combined methodological framework drawing on historical research, socio‐historical approaches and natural‐science methods was employed. This integrated approach proved effective: of the 123 initially presumed FMHs, 79 were confirmed as having medieval origins, while the remaining 44 sites were shown to be of later date, of uncertain chronology or unfortified. Remote sensing verified a substantial proportion of FMHs recorded in historical sources; however, archaeological research, fieldwalking survey, geophysical survey and the analysis of historical maps also yielded valuable results. The spatial distribution of Central Moravian FMHs, comparable with that of fortified manorial residences elsewhere in Central Europe, reflects their multifunctional character but is primarily conditioned by agricultural suitability, particularly the presence of fertile soils, as well as by territorial constraints imposed by major landholders such as margraves and bishops.