Quondam castrum Pin w świetle najnowszych badań archeologicznych

Archaeological excavations in Pien (Dąbrowa Chelminska commune) were carried out by the Institute of Archaeology of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun in 2003–2007 and continued in 2008. During this last season the interest of researchers focused on site 1, within which was an early medieval stronghold and, situated directly on its remains, was a late medieval motte. The stronghold in Pien drew the attention of historians as early as the 19th century due to several medieval documents from 1222, 1247–1248 and 1285. A small amount of data on the history of the locality in the 13th century became the foundation for a wideranging polemic amongst historians. Already from the beginning of the 20th century the possibility of close administrative ties between the stronghold in Pien, the Wyszogrod castellany and the Powala family estate with its centre in Pien was pointed out in literature. Another area that was researched was an attempt to clarify the rights to the locality of Świetopelk, Duke of Pomerania and Konrad, Duke of Mazovia. The main aim of the excavations conducted in 2008 was a comprehensive study of the remains of the Teutonic Order residential-defence feature located on the mound. Two trenches were set: one (trench 9/08), with dimensions of 5 × 5 m, in the southern part of the motte, and the second (trench 10/08) with dimensions of 4 × 2 m, on its western slope. In the first trench it was expected that the course of the southern wall of the feature and the location of an annex with a possible entrance would be unearthed. The second trench was set to verify the existence of cultural layers at the edge of the early medieval stronghold and the late medieval motte. Archaeological excavations carried out over six seasons provided data which complements the existing hypotheses. Four phases of the stronghold occupation in the Early Middle Ages were identified. The researchers failed to link the youngest phase, dated from the 11th century to the 11th/12th century, with the recorded remains of the fortifications, hence the hypothesis of the open nature of the settlement in the early 12th century. This suggests that the stronghold in Pien, mentioned in the document from Lonyz as quondam castrum , ceased to have defensive functions at the time when the document was issued by the office of Konrad, Duke of Mazovia. Based on the pottery material, it is assumed that the end of the early medieval settlement in Pien is roughly the turn of the 11th century. However, due to the intensification of hostilities in this part of Polish territory, it is impossible to unequivocally prove who destroyed the stronghold.