The Púchov culture settlement on Zyndram’s Hill in Maszkowice – old materials and new interpretations

The Púchov culture settlement on Zyndram’s Hill in Maszkowice was excavated as early as the mid-20th century and is known from the literature, but the results of the research conducted there have never been fully analysed and published before. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the features and artefacts from this site, recovered during research in the 20th century and excavations conducted since 2010. Based on the analysis of archival documentation, it was possible to reconstruct the probable settlement layout, identifying several households scattered throughout the central and western parts of the plateau. A detailed typological and stylistic analysis of the ceramic and metal artefacts, combined with recently obtained radiocarbon dating, made it possible to precisely determine the time of the settlement’s activity and reconstruct its interregional connections. Despite its strategic location and close contacts with the Púchov culture’s core area, the settlement on Zyndram’s Hill was not a production or cult centre. The end of its functioning correlates with the crisis of settlement of this cultural unit in the middle Dunajec River valley around LtD1/LtD2.