Klápště/Archaeology of Prague, 5. Urban Settlement

The Prague agglomeration of the 12th and early 13th centuries was an exceptionally developed settlement structure, which has left an important legacy that is still apparent; especially its Romanesque houses within later buildings. Most of them had been constructed before the expansion of Prague in the 1230s. An important aspect of the archaeology of the towns of the later Middle Ages concerns their houses. Archaeology has repeatedly suggested the gradual development of houses on their plots. In the case of still standing medieval houses, systematic cooperation between archaeology and building history tends to be very effective. Research provides information on the household equipment, the diet of the urban population and on the urban environment. In some cases, it illustrates the professional activities of the burghers and shows their mentality. Urban archaeology mainly deals with those areas that were enclosed by the town wall. The possibilities for the effective study of medieval suburbs are much smaller. In this context, the results of the long-term programmed research of the suburb in Sezimovo Ústí are exceptional.