ABSTRACT
Questions regarding the date and origin of early medieval strongholds in Polish lands have fascinated scholars for a long time. In the light of critical analysis of previous reports on fieldwork, it is evident that the first of the early medieval Slavic strongholds did not appear in Polish lands before the second half of the 6th century, and more probably date from the turn of that century. A common feature of all the earliest medieval hillforts in Polish lands is the character of their internal buildings. However, at Hacki, as at some other contemporary hillforts, many traces of specialized if temporary activities, such as jewellery-making and weaving, have been found. Some hillforts from this earliest phase seem to present intermediate forms between open settlements and strongholds. Their construction and inner layout are very similar to those of the hillforts at Szeligi and Hacki in Poland.
