Typology of hillforts according to their functions in the Polish Carpathians and their foreland, in the Early Medieval state of the first Piast dynasty – research using the latest geoinformatic tools

Early Medieval hillforts were characterized by a significant stratification of their functionality during the period of the rule of the first Piast dynasty. Using geoinformatic tools, and historical and archaeological data, it is possible to determine their place in the settlement hierarchy within a given research area (Polish Carpathians). The Middle Ages abounded in various antagonisms between the surrounding countries. Therefore, such structures were created according to old military technology with a simple defensive function. On the one hand, hillforts were conceived in terms of protecting the population from a potential invaders. On the other hand, they were bases for stationing the army (warriors). Additionally, they protected the produced raw materials and local and supra-local trade. Open settlements were susceptible to greater destruction as they lacked palisades or earthen ramparts. Therefore, the local population had to escape to the so-called ‘closed’ settlements – especially refugial, i.e. those that have large enough area to concentrate the local population originating from the surrounding hinterland of the stronghold. Hillforts are located in naturally advantageous defensive sites (at least most of them). Ships could sail on rivers – for transport purposes, among others. Therefore, often the location of individual hillforts along rivers meant a great socio-economic development around them. The Piast state in the eastern Polish Carpathians [Rajman 2018] had the opportunity to maintain Cherven Cities for a short time [Wołoszyn 2013].