Abstract

In 2016, an archaeological field survey was conducted on a previously uninvestigated stronghold in Perły, Węgorzewo district. A single trial trench 5 by 2 metres was performed and explored. It was located in the northwestern part of the stronghold, at the edge of the hill. The documented cultural layers were related to a building, probably of residential function, dated to the early Iron Age (EB vI through Ha D) and presumably linked to the beginnings of the West Balt Barrow Culture. The discovered structures with their accompanying artefacts represent the first horizon of exploitation of the hill (i.e. permanent settlement). Perhaps initially the elevation was not fortified, but it cannot be excluded that some sort of entrenchment was situated at the very edge of it (a palisade/ fence) and became obliterated. The second horizon of exploitation of the hillfort belongs to the modern era (the 18th through 19th century) – it is represented by a pit documented around the second or third metre (counting from the eastern edge of the trench).