Researchers discovered “an absolutely unique site on the archaeological map” of southeastern Poland, known as Kaplonosy Kolonia’s hillfort, an early medieval defense complex that was preserved in the forests of Włodawa, El.kz reports citing Interesting Engineering.
During an epic research project spanning ten years, archaeologists first took to the skies in 2016 to investigate what might be lurking beneath the woods. Though they detected the traces of ramparts, it was almost another decade before they could conduct field surveys on the ground. Finally, in 2025, under the direction of the Lublin Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments, they confirmed the discovery of an abandoned 10th to 13th-century hillfort that nature had taken over, shielding it from subsequent human hands with sparse signs of Jewish occupation during WWII.
Dubbed the Kaplonosy Kolonia’s hillfort, archaeologists recovered priceless artifacts from a true “archaeological treasure” as it stands as one of the best preserved early medieval fortified sites in the region of Lublin that nature continues to protect.
A hidden medieval hillfort
No wonder Kaplonosy Kolonia remained untouched for centuries as it laid deep in the Las Ochoża Nature Reserve, Archaeology Mag reports. Conducting any work in these dense wetlands and woodlands posed researchers a significant challenge, limiting the transport of equipment and the extent of their research due to environmental regulations.
Nonetheless, researchers overcame the obstacles to document a “unique” relic from Poland’s medieval past. They relied on non-invasive and minimally invasive methods, such as aerial images invisible and infrared light, LiDAR data, and electrical resistivity surveys.
One would expect that the earthworks wouldn’t have survived the centuries, but they remained identifiable because the woods had protected the medieval hillfort. Archaeology Mag continues that geophysical data didn’t produce any clear plans of building, but subsurface anomalies did indicate the presence of hearths and storage pits. The rampart line showed some signs of timber box structures, filled with stone or soil. The entrance appeared, as far as archaeologists can tell, to be situated along the eastern front.