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Biskupin Biskupin A fortified village built between 750 and 400 BC by a tribe of the Lusatian Culture. It was a fairly big settlement with a population of up to 1,200. They lived by farming, livestock breeding and fishing. Intensive trade contacts also developed - not far off ran the famous Amber Road that linked the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas. Most probably the settlement was destroyed by the Scythians, although excavations show that the area remained inhabited until the 11th century AD. Covered by marshy deposits and turf, the floors of the houses and streets were hidden under water for centuries and well protected from atmospheric influence. This allowed the lower parts of the Early Iron Age settlement to survive intact for about 2,400 years. Part of the village has been reconstructed as faithfully as possible to what it must have been like originally. It is Europe's oldest defensive village surrounded by marshes. It was connected with the mainland by a 120m wooden bridge leading to a massive gateway with a watchtower. The whole island was encircled by 6m-high fortifications built of wood, stone and earthworks. Inside, 13 parallel rows of houses were laid out with walkways between them and one circular street running along the defensive wall. Each of the streets was paved with oak and pine logs. Altogether, there were some 100 big houses measuring on average about 80 sq metres and divided into living quarters, with a stone stove and one large bed for all the inhabitants (up to 10 people) in each dwelling, with a barn where livestock was kept. The roofs were thatched with reeds.