Institute of Archaeology
Topic
The Phenomenon of Elite Manorial Courts in the Early Middle Ages (Based on Research at Ducové and Nitrianska Blatnica)
PhD. program
Internal/External
Year of admission
2026
Name of the supervisor
doc. PhDr. Matej Ruttkay, CSc.
Contact:
Receiving school
Comenius University Bratislava
Annotation
Elite manorial courts represent a distinctive category of Early Medieval settlement structures, characterised by the coexistence of residential buildings, a sacral structure, and an associated burial ground. These sites are generally unfortified or protected only by simple defensive features, such as palisades. Their highest concentration is documented in southern Moravia, while a smaller yet significant number is known from present-day Slovakia and the Czech lands. Despite their prominent position within Early Medieval settlement systems, the function, genesis, and socio-political role of elite manorial courts remain insufficiently understood.
The primary objective of this doctoral project is a comprehensive analysis of two key sites—Ducové and Nitrianska Blatnica—excavated by A. Ruttkay, and their interpretation within the broader Central European context. The research aims to identify the factors influencing the emergence, development, and decline of elite manorial courts, as well as to examine evidence for their possible continuity beyond the Great Moravian period. Particular attention will be paid to their role within the Early Medieval economy and settlement hierarchy, alongside a critical reassessment of theories concerning Frankish influence on their formation.
Through a detailed analysis of spatial organisation, architectural features, and material culture, the dissertation seeks to develop new interpretative models of elite manorial courts as centres of power, economic activity, and ideological representation. A key component of the project will be the application of scientific methods, including radiocarbon dating and isotopic and genetic analyses of human remains, enabling refined chronological frameworks and insights into social structure and population mobility. The results are expected to contribute significantly to our understanding of Early Medieval socio-political organisation in Central Europe and to reassess existing interpretative paradigms.
The primary objective of this doctoral project is a comprehensive analysis of two key sites—Ducové and Nitrianska Blatnica—excavated by A. Ruttkay, and their interpretation within the broader Central European context. The research aims to identify the factors influencing the emergence, development, and decline of elite manorial courts, as well as to examine evidence for their possible continuity beyond the Great Moravian period. Particular attention will be paid to their role within the Early Medieval economy and settlement hierarchy, alongside a critical reassessment of theories concerning Frankish influence on their formation.
Through a detailed analysis of spatial organisation, architectural features, and material culture, the dissertation seeks to develop new interpretative models of elite manorial courts as centres of power, economic activity, and ideological representation. A key component of the project will be the application of scientific methods, including radiocarbon dating and isotopic and genetic analyses of human remains, enabling refined chronological frameworks and insights into social structure and population mobility. The results are expected to contribute significantly to our understanding of Early Medieval socio-political organisation in Central Europe and to reassess existing interpretative paradigms.