Not researched in complex, the rich findings of Great Moravian centres, gained by systematic study of the main sites during the 2nd half of the 20th century, offer a unique opportunity of their comprehensive analysis. By detailed evaluation of the findings we can substantially enlarge our actual knowledge of the medieval sociaty and its life together with its social and economic relations. The increasing role of trades, especially smithery, reflected technological development of that times. Scientific description of the findings can contribute to a better understanding of structures of the medieval society. There has not been published a complex piece of work about the iron master´s technology from the period of the 8th-11th century. With the help of the Brno FSI VUT metalography we are going to analyse and classify particular cathegories of the smithery products in Mikulčice and Znojmo-Hradiště territory and, based on the chronological comparison also of other sites findings, to produce a typological and chronological survey of the development of the findings. The basis will be formed by the files chronologically described. An essential part of the project will contain a cataloque with detailed technical dravings of the artefacts. Such comprehensive work will contribute to the image of early middle age trades and broader understanding of the period. It will also have general validity.

Results

The main scope of the grant was the study of an important part of a very rich finding fund of the Great Moravian centre in Mikulčice that has not been treated yet; this fund represents various categories of iron-forged pieces. We focused on three main tasks within the project: 1/ The gradual classification and treatment of the individual categories of smiths’ products, including a very careful documentation that reflects the present conditions of the objects. 2/ At the same time, we studied artefacts within the relationships of the settlements, objects and the grave complexes based on this documentation. 3/ To detect the production technology, we did metallographic analyses of the bigger collection of the selected (knife) blades. All the knowledge was presented in studies, articles and at conferences and prepared for the general classifications and treatments. The results of the study have brought a new view of the structure, character, development, and extent of the Great Moravian centre, its production zones, and it confirmed the gradual specialization of the local smith’s masters. The process of the solution to the project has been affected by two big catastrophes last year. First, it was the death of on of the project solvers, then the devastating fire in Mikulčice destroyed not only nearly all documents, but also a greater part of the project work. Therefore, it was no possible to complete the planned project on time and to submit the publication output that will have to be modified in a certain respect because of these reasons.

Publications