Monumental and Long-Lasting or Temporary and Performative? How did Neolithic Rondels Function? Radiocarbon Dating and Bayesian Chronological Modeling of the Rondel at Nowe Objezierze (Northwestern Poland)
Abstract
Radiocarbon dating and Bayesian chronology modeling have provided precise dating for the rondel at Nowe Objezierze (northwestern Poland). This monument, located in the farthest reaches of the “Danubian World,” sheds new light on rondels and the way they functioned. A total of 44 radiocarbon dates are now available for the site, and modeling of these (taking into account depositional processes and the results of palynological analysis) has identified plausible scenarios for its construction and use. The rondel was built around 4800 cal b.c. and operated for about three centuries. The cyclical digging and filling of ditches and the sequential establishment of new ones characterized the historical development of the site. The long duration of use of the site served as a base to analyze the potential construction technology and to propose the reconstruction of the appearance of the rondel.
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High-resolution palynological research, combined with radiocarbon dating of the rondel, shows a close correlation between its construction and a rapid population increase.
“High-resolution palynological research, combined with radiocarbon dating of the rondel, shows a close correlation between its construction and a rapid population increase (Czerniak et al., 2023(Czerniak et al., , 2024)).”
From Construction, Maintenance and Ritual Practices on the Neolithic Rondel at Nowe Objezierze (Northwestern Poland): The chaîne opératoire of Rondel’s Architecture (2025) · cites this paper as Czerniak et al., 2023
High-resolution palynological research, combined with radiocarbon dating of the rondel, shows a close correlation between its construction and a rapid population increase.
“High-resolution palynological research, combined with radiocarbon dating of the rondel, shows a close correlation between its construction and a rapid population increase (Czerniak et al., 2023(Czerniak et al., , 2024)).”
From Construction, Maintenance and Ritual Practices on the Neolithic Rondel at Nowe Objezierze (Northwestern Poland): The chaîne opératoire of Rondel’s Architecture (2025) · cites this paper as Czerniak et al., 2024
The history of rondels may have commenced about 200 years before their appearance, with the collapse of the LBK, which was marked by population decline and migrations.
“This suggests that the history of rondels may have commenced about 200 years before their appearance, with the collapse of the LBK, which was marked by population decline and migrations (affecting the Lowlands the most: Bogucki, 2020; Czerniak et al., 2023;Marciniak et al., 2022), as well as new rituals, the most striking example being the double ditch structure in Herxheim (Zeeb-Lanz, 2019).”
From Construction, Maintenance and Ritual Practices on the Neolithic Rondel at Nowe Objezierze (Northwestern Poland): The chaîne opératoire of Rondel’s Architecture (2025) · cites this paper as Czerniak et al., 2023
The decrease in pine and hazel strongly suggests that these species were used as building materials for the rondel.
“A significant decrease in the proportion of pine (from approximately 39 to 22%) and hazel (from 17 to 9%) observed in the palynological profile, which almost perfectly aligns with the dating of the rondel's construction phase, strongly suggests that these species were used as building materials for the rondel (for details, see Czerniak et al., 2023).”
From Construction, Maintenance and Ritual Practices on the Neolithic Rondel at Nowe Objezierze (Northwestern Poland): The chaîne opératoire of Rondel’s Architecture (2025) · cites this paper as Czerniak et al., 2023
A significant decrease in the proportion of pine (from approximately 39 to 22%) and hazel (from 17 to 9%) observed in the palynological profile almost perfectly aligns with the dating of the rondel's construction phase.
“A significant decrease in the proportion of pine (from approximately 39 to 22%) and hazel (from 17 to 9%) observed in the palynological profile, which almost perfectly aligns with the dating of the rondel's construction phase, strongly suggests that these species were used as building materials for the rondel (for details, see Czerniak et al., 2023).”
From Construction, Maintenance and Ritual Practices on the Neolithic Rondel at Nowe Objezierze (Northwestern Poland): The chaîne opératoire of Rondel’s Architecture (2025) · cites this paper as Czerniak et al., 2023
Radiocarbon dating indicates that the bone accumulation in section A of the youngest ditch at the western gate is significantly older than the surrounding context and corresponds to the rondel's construction phase.
“Radiocarbon dating indicates that this accumulation is significantly older than the surrounding context and corresponds to the rondel's construction phase (Czerniak et al., 2024).”
From Construction, Maintenance and Ritual Practices on the Neolithic Rondel at Nowe Objezierze (Northwestern Poland): The chaîne opératoire of Rondel’s Architecture (2025) · cites this paper as Czerniak et al., 2024
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Czerniak, L. (2025) · Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory · doi:10.1007/s10816-024-09669-2
“I previously adopted this hypothesis (Czerniak et al., 2024), but I now reject it in light of the discoveries of rondels whose surface traces have been preserved due to their location in forested areas, likely uncultivated since the Neolithic (Kovárník, 2012; Mario Wallner, personal communication:…”
InfluentialSelf-citationCzerniak, L., Więcaszek, K., & Jakubczak, M. (2026) · Journal of Anthropological Archaeology · doi:10.1016/j.jaa.2026.101807
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- Authors
- Czerniak, L., Bayliss, A., Goslar, T., Badura, M., Budilová, K., Lisá, L., Marciniak, A., Matuszewska, A., Pędziszewska, A., & Święty-Musznicka, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Gdańsk (PL)
- Historic England (GB)
- Poznań Radiocarbon Laboratory, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
- University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (CZ)
- Czech Academy of Sciences (CZ)
- Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (PL)
- University of Szczecin (PL)
- University of Gdansk, Gdańsk, Poland
- Corresponding author
- Czerniak, Lech
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Field Archaeology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2024-02-07
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 335-355
- ISSN
- 0093-4690 (ISSN-L)
- 2042-4582
- OpenAlex
- W4391616282
- Cited by
- 2
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 1
- FWCI
- 0.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Field Archaeology (publishedVersion)
- Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Centre Poland (2017/27/B/HS3/02925)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Archaeological and Geological Studies
- Keywords
- radiocarbon dating, Bayesian chronology, site chronology, ditches, palynology, construction technology, Neolithic settlement
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