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This paper aims to present the potential of observations of the Earth’s surface by means of remote sensing (survey), specifically via direct (active) visual prospection from low altitude to identify and map small components (such as postholes) of archaeological contexts, namely aboveground post-built structures dated to the Early Iron Age (appr. 800–380 B.C.). This work gives an example of archaeological data on buried settlement constructions identified by aerial reconnaissance (i.e., by a non-invasive method), the interpretation—and primarily dating—of which is based on information achieved by excavation practice (recently performed predominantly during rescue campaigns). This research points to the fact that nonetheless to the traditional idea on the limited potential of crop-marked archaeological heritage in terms of dating (the ability of cropmarks displayed over pits, ditches, graves, etc., to produce exact ground-plans of even small buried features, so that their original function and dating can be determined) the number of more or less precisely datable archaeological sites and features buried under the surface is growing, including wooden structures once constructed on the ground (i.e., not sunken under the ground) and leaving on cereal crops just tiny spots/dots regularly spaced into lines. These are features (constructions) with identical ground plans (postholes placed in 4 × 3 and/or 3 × 3 patterns) of which commonly just one in a group of them situated on one site is enclosed by a perimeter line—a foundation for a wall or a trench for a palisade. Consequently, a retrospective survey of air-photo analog archives and digital repositories now brings new evidence on the chronological setting of many crop-marked Early Iron Age sites that previously remained undated.

Two princely graves (numbers 6 and 14) of the Bylany culture from the Hallstatt period were excavated at Prague-Letňany in December 2014. The paper summarises the results of the scientific analysis of grave number 6. The grave inventory contained a four-wheeled waggon, 21 ceramic vessels of variable size and type, one bronze bucket, one iron sword, two iron spits and a variety of animal bones. Dark paint on the outer surface of the bronze bucket was examined using infrared spectroscopy and revealed the presence of beeswax and charcoal. This is unusual as the paint or coatings found on archaeological vessels from numerous periods are generally based on natural resins. Pollen analysis of the organic matter found in the bottom of the bronze bucket showed that it had originally belonged to flowers, probably in the form of a floral tribute. Osteological analysis of the offered parts of one adult sheep, one adult pig and one calf skeleton revealed the specific selection from fleshy parts of the animal bodies. There were no clear signs of roasting on the animal bones. Analysis of the waggon showed that Fagus wood was used for construction of the felloes, Abies/Picea wood for the axle and Ulmus, Acer and Quercus for other parts, suggesting that Modern Age technologies were already in use during the Hallstatt period.

Příspěvek se zabývá dílčími problémy halštatského hradiště v Minicích u Kralup nad Vltavou, které bylo zkoumáno v letech 1970–1989. Soustředí se zejména na archeologické situace či nálezy, které mají nadregionální význam. Přináší nové pohledy na rekonstrukci a původ kamenných staveb na akropoli a prezentuje další neobvyklé nálezy a situace související s architekturou hradiště. Soustředí se rovněž na významné nálezy movité hmotné kultury, dokládající interregionální dálkové kontakty s oblastí Karpatské kotliny či západního Středomoří, a informuje o lokální produkci zejména keramiky či kostěné industrie. Pozornost je rovněž věnována funkci hradiště z hlediska regionální sídelní sítě a jeho roli jako jednoho z tzv. centrálních míst-regionálních mocenských center.