Arian Tower: Pyramid-Shaped Mausoleum Of Nobleman Was Built On Top Of Medieval Hill Fort

AncientPages.com - Science in Poland reports that the oldest Polish mausoleum in the shape of a pyramid, the Arian Tower in Krynica (Lublin province), was built in the place of the early medieval hill fort from the period of early tribes.

Scientists, who have determined the location of the tomb using airborne laser scanning, say it was the final resting place of a nobleman, Paweł Orzechowski, chamberlain of Chełm. It is believed to be the oldest tomb in Poland with a pyramid-shaped structure on top.

The Arian Tower in Krynica was built in the beginning of the 17th century. It is the oldest tomb in Poland with a pyramid-shaped structure on top. Image credit: S. Zelisko via Science in Poland

The Arian Tower in Krynica was built in the beginning of the 17th century. It is the oldest tomb in Poland with a pyramid-shaped structure on top. Image credit: S. Zelisko via Science in Poland

"There are many indications that these are the remains of an early medieval hill fort" - says Konrad Grochecki, archaeologist from the Regional Museum in Krasnystaw and a PhD student at the Institute of History of the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin.

It is known that the chamberlain Orzechowski was an Arian - follower of a nontrinitarian doctrine. (Arians do not believe in the traditional doctrine of the Trinity). He wanted to be buried in the mausoleum “together with his ancestors.”  It could mean that the hill was known for its earlier, long history, perhaps related to the early tribal past, the times before the creation of the Polish state", according to Grochecki.

At the same, it was known that he, in no way, would have been qualified for burial in a Catholic cemetery.

The mausoleum, which will be further excavated and analyzed, was found in poor condition; it was damaged during the Second World War and the last extensive conservation work on the structure took place in the 1950s. Image credit: K. Grochecki via Science in Poland

The mausoleum, which will be further excavated and analyzed, was found in poor condition; it was damaged during the Second World War and the last extensive conservation work on the structure took place in the 1950s. Image credit: K. Grochecki via Science in Poland

The discovery was made with airborne laser scanning and researchers Anna Kubicka of Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, and Konrad Grochecki of Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, collected data and created a map of the site using measurements made with airborne laser scanning equipment.

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According to Grochecki, the shape, size and layout of the ramparts indicate that it was an ancient hill fort. The hill had two lines of ramparts. They separated the lower part of the hill from the steeper and higher part, where the mausoleum crowned with a pyramid stands today. The width of the outer rampart is approx. 8 m. Its maximum height is currently approx. 40 cm.

The outlines of ramparts on the surface of the earth are very difficult to spot, which is why they have not been known even to the local conservator. But accurate measuring equipment revealed small differences in the terrain elevation. Image credit: A. Kubicka/via Science in Poland

The outlines of ramparts on the surface of the earth are very difficult to spot, which is why they have not been known even to the local conservator. But accurate measuring equipment revealed small differences in the terrain elevation. Image credit: A. Kubicka/via Science in Poland

The inner rampart probably had similar dimensions. The area within the ramparts was 1.4 ha.

Based on historical documents, at the time of the construction of the mausoleum (early 17th century), the hill was referred to as "horodysko" (“ a place where a fort used to be”). This could mean that 400 years ago its relics were more visible, the archaeologist says.

The scientist also has another hypothesis regarding the function of fortifications. He suggests that there could be a dissenter cemetery in that place and the ramparts marked its borders.

"Whichever hypothesis is true, everything indicates that the hill was chosen for the construction of the pyramid because of its long history. There is also another, higher hill nearby, but it was not chosen for the construction of the mausoleum" - says Grochecki.

The mausoleum, which will be further excavated and analyzed, was found in poor condition; it was damaged during the Second World War and the last extensive conservation work on the structure took place in the 1950s.

Original story

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