Dusan Maczek is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Archaeology.

More information about Dusan Maczek

Office Days

No fixed days. Contact via e-mail.

Research

My research focuses on the finds of weaponry from a non-funeral contexts, specifically the deposition in wetlands in the early medieval period. The body of archaeological evidence in the form of wetland weapon finds from the medieval period has been increasing and the aim is to reassess the data in a wider scale, bringing together finds from Northwestern as well as Central and Eastern Europe. With the use of GIS spatial analysis and distributional maps, the connection to cultural landscape is investigated and the possibilities of these objects being intentional deposits is explored. Whether this archaeological evidence is a result of convergent value-systems in the light of Scandinavian incursions of the time, conversion of the landscape, coping with the abandonment of weapon burial ritual, conflict resolution or needs to be understood from a perspective of Christian appropriation of past beliefs, the aim is to assess this evidence with a new perspective.

Curriculum vitae

I have obtained my BA from Comenius University in Bratislava in 2014 and MA from Leiden University in 2016. In my BA thesis I analysed medieval pottery uncovered at a site of Rusovce-Gerulata, former Roman fort on the Limes Romanus and later medieval motte-type castle. My MA thesis focused on the water deposition of swords from the Carolingian period in Northwestern Europe and questioned the interpretation of these finds being solely remains of battles or mere losses. My PhD project builds upon this research and expands on the ideas touched upon in my MA thesis.
My research interest also extends to studies of archaeometallurgy and metallography of medieval swords, and the possibilities of interdisciplinary research in uncovering the technology used for manufacture of steel and steel blades in the early medieval period as well as the networks utilized for their trade and exchange.

Publications