„EMPTY SPACES” IN MEDIEVAL TOWNS - PLACES OF EXCLUSION OR PROGRESS?
Channel: European Association of Archaeologists
Date: 2021-04-07

Author(s): Cembrzynski, Pawel (Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences)



The commonly invoked picture of a medieval town consists of a walled area tightly packed with houses and narrow streets. But many of these towns included areas I call “empty spaces”: peripheral, less valuable, less prestigious, yet dynamic. They could be literally empty, or socially “empty” as a place of exclusion. There are several questions concerning „empty spaces” in Central-European towns: Can “empty spaces” be traced in historical sources? How were these spaces formed? Which functions they performed and how did these functions evolve? How did burghers perceive “empty spaces”? To answer these questions I will compare written records with archaeological data form several towns in Central Europe, with special a reference to Wrocław (Poland) and Prague New Town (Czech Republic). As large centres they have rich documentary records along with many available archaeological data. ”Empty spaces” appeared there in two cases: during the chartering process or due to calamities or abandonment. In the first case they served as space reservoirs for further development. The most peripheral parts of such areas had low value, but large plots and scattered buildings made them perfect for space-demanding, burdensome crafts

(i.e. blacksmiths). Peripheral “empty spaces” were inhabited by people excluded economically (pauperized, lower classes) or socially (Jewish communities). I will try to demonstrate, that “empty spaces” could be considered not only as areas of exclusion, but also as constantly changing hubs of new possibilities.