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Daily life environments

- Open environments Lake Biskupin provided a favourable environment for farming and stock-breeding. The forests on the slopes of the valley of Gąsawka River had been cleared for agriculture. Slash-and-burn agriculture and field rotation were used. In this latter method of farming a larger area of arable land was divided into several parts, one of them cultivated while the others lay fallow. In the forests surrounding the farmland the traditional slash-and-burn technique was used. A tract of forest was cleared of scrub and smaller trees which were left to dry, and then were burned. The new field was cultivated for two or three years until its fertility was depleted, when it was left for several years to rest. The layer of ash and burnt under-growth made ploughing and sowing easy. The inhabitants of Biskupin spent a lot of their time and energy to protect their fields and crops from wild animals and birds. From early spring to late autumn most of the people spent their time outside the fortified settlement farming and protecting the fields, and looking after their stock, living in temporary open settlements. The group of 700-1000 people living in Biskupin and such satellite settlements made use of an area of about 25 km2, but not more than 1500 ha were exploited extensively. Every year 150-200 ha of land was cultivated. Hoes and ploughs were used. There were two types of primitive wooden plough. One, known as the "crooked beam" plough was pulled by oxen or cows. The ard, used to cut furrows in the soil before sowing, may have been drawn by humans using a rope or a leather strap. Most of the fields were sown with wheat. The people of Biskupin knew four species: emmer, spelt, club wheat and bread wheat. Two kinds of barley and millet were also grown. The millet may have been planted in small patches next to the settlement. Harvested corn was ground on large querns, usually granite, with a grinding stone. Legumes, oleaginous plants and flax were cultivated near the settlement using wooden or antler hoes.

- Closed environments The peninsula of the settlement in Biskupin was surrounded on most sides by waters of Lake Biskupin. The lake was the main source of water for humans and their livestock. In summertime fishermen in oak dugouts sailed on the lake, women did the laundry and children played in the water. During winter, when the water was frozen over, fisherman angled under the ice and children skated on bone skates – a picturesque view almost like out of Breugel’s paintings. Both in summer and winter the lake also served as an excellent route for transporting commodities, like timber, for building or repairing the ramparts or houses. The current view of the lake will be documented by film camera





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