Mounds and barrows as important elements of cultural landscape of Poland

Abstract

The tradition of making mounds in the area of Poland goes back to prehistoric times. Mounds had the function as the places of skeleton burials and/or cremation burials as well as places of worship. Later mounds had (among others) the following functions: orientation points, signalization points, landmarks and border points, artificial elevations for development, elements of the landscape in gardens and parks, places of burial, monuments honouring famous people and historic events. Their proper documentation, by their characteristics through graphical description, can be a valuable source on their localization, history and technical shape of the building. The article presents proposals of a card of scientific documentation of mounds and barrows, using the example of the Krakus Mound. Based on scientific literature, cartographic materials, lists of the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society (PTTK) and interviews in the fields, 1111 (including 85 destroyed) mounds and barrows were illustrated on the map, making an open database. KOPCE I KURHANY JAKO ISTOTNE ELEMENTY KRAJOBRAZU KULTUROWEGO POLSKI Słowa kluczowe: kopce, kurhany, elementy krajobrazu, baza kopców i kurhanów