Środowisko geograficzne Łodzi jako tło osadnictwa pradziejowego

Geokomplexes - units of a landscape structure were used as areas of reference for analysis of spatial arrangement of prehistoric archeological sites in Łódź and in its neighborhood. Geocomplex types were grouped into four classes: A - lithogenic geocomplexes associated with permeable deposits, B - lithogenic geocomplexes associated with low-permeable deposits, C - semihydrogenic geocomplexes developing under seasonal anaerobic conditions; D - hydrogenic geocomplexes developing under long lasting or permanent anaerobic conditions. The delimitation of the geocomplexes was based on a relative homogeneity of lithology and on the relief regarded as stabile physical features. The geocomplex classes were distinguished by water conditions. The location of 281 archeological sites from te Stone age to the late Iron Age clearly shows a concentration of archeological findings in a south-western part of Łódź. The largest number of the sites was found in valleys of the rivers Ner, Dobrzynka, Jasień, Olechówka and in the vicinity of the valleys. Archeological findigs were also encountered in the river valleys of the Bzura, Sok ołówka, and other streams of north-western part of the city. Similar location of archeological objects had been earlier recognised in the valleys of the Warta (Kamińska 1970, Bezkowska 1992), Bzura (Papińska 2001a, b, Rosin 1995, 2001), Moszczenica (K a m i ń s k i 1993) and Grabia (P e li s i a k 1991). It can be assumed that in all studied periods an access to water (to a river) was crucial for attracting settlers. The role of surficial water and of shallow groundwater for the settlement in the Łęczyca region was described by T. Krzemiński and Z. Maksymiuk (1966), and T. Krzemiński (1987). The analyses of the location of the prehistoric archaeological sites within geocomplex classes show that 59% of the sites under consideration were found in lithogenic geocomplexes associated with permeable deposits (A); 13,5% - in lithogenic geocomplexes associated with low-permeable deposits (B). Only 1,4% of the sites occurred in semihydrogenic geocomplexes (C), and 21,5% - in hydrogenic geocomplexes. The remaining 3,6% was located on the boundary of two geocomplex classes. Multicultural archaeological sites predominate, which indicates continuous settlement in the area. It can be assumed that natural features in a particular place were attractive for settlers from many cultures and times.

Opracowanie prezentuje charakterystykę środowiska geograficznego Łodzi i okolic waspekcie tła dla rozwoju ekumeny w pradziejach. Położenie stanowisk archeologicznych od epoki kamienia do późnej epoki żelaza zaprezentowano na tle geokompleksów częściowych, zgrupowanych w cztery klasy. Kryteriami delimitacji geokompleksów były utwory powierzchniowe i rzeźba terenu, które są powszechnie uwaźane za komponenty stabilne. Podstawą wyróźniania klas geokompleksów były warunki wodne w nich panujące. zaprezentowano prawidłowości w rozmieszczeniu stanowisk archeologicznych w poszczególnych typach geokompleksów, a takźe w nawiązaniu do typu gospodarki charakterystycznej dla danej kultury archeologicznej.