27 September 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

A Medieval Barbican and a Network of Passages Uncovered in Western Slovakia’s town of Trenčín

A medieval barbican (fortified outpost or fortified gateway), and a network of passages that acted as a sewerage system have been uncovered in western Slovakia’s town of Trenčín. At the time, the site would have been part of the Kingdom of Hungary.

The discovery, made during a revitalization project of the city’s pedestrian zone, and the remnants of the city’s medieval castle system, which shed new light on its defensive structures, are well-preserved, reports My Trenčín.

Archaeologist Drahoslav Hulínek, head of the excavation on Sládkovičova Street said that the discovery will allow researchers to reconstruct the plan for the town’s early fortifications.

“A bridge spanned the moat, leading to an entrance portal,” Hulínek said. “The walls extended on either side towards the gate, which featured another tower-like structure—its remains are visible on the floor plan,” he explained.

From the beginning of Sládkovičova Street, where a tower and moat once stood, the barbican, a crucial defensive feature, extended.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



Photo: Maroš Buchel

The structure is one of the most important pre-castle fortifications in the former Kingdom of Hungary, demonstrating the strategic significance of Trenčín during the Middle Ages. The barbican is associated with King Sigismund of Luxembourg, a devout Catholic who ruled during the Hussite raids, a string of battles and military expeditions in Central Europe in the early 15th century that were named for Jan Hus, a Czech reformer who opposed the Catholic Church.

The barbican’s walls were not the only thing discovered during the excavation. They also discovered a system of underground passageways and tunnels that were mainly used as a medieval sewer system.

Archaeologists have discovered significant quantities of late medieval pottery and glass dating from the medieval to the modern period. Remains of houses dating from the 15th to the 19th century were also found.

The main phase of the research has been completed. Once a busy street with homes up until the 1970s, the location now provides a unique window into Trenčín’s past.

Cover Image Credit: Archaeologists Alexej Skutin and Drahoslav Hulínek during excavations on Sládkovičova Street. Photo: MAROŠ BUCHEL

Related Articles

First of Its Kind: 1,400-year-old Silla Crown Adorned with Jewel Beetle Wings Unearthed in South Korea

24 May 2025

24 May 2025

In a dazzling discovery blending nature and royalty, archaeologists in South Korea have unearthed a 1,400-year-old crown adorned with jewel...

Archaeologists discovered 130 dwellings around the Ringheiligtum Pömmelte monument “German Stonehenge”

15 June 2021

15 June 2021

Archaeologists have unearthed 130 dwellings at an Early Bronze Age monument in Germany, indicating that the ‘Stonehenge’ was once home...

The First Native Americans were Among the First Metal Miners in the World

20 March 2021

20 March 2021

An arrowhead made of pure copper 8,500 years ago dates the history of the copper age to an earlier period,...

Lidar Technology Reveals a 3,000-year-old Secret Mayan City with Full of Pyramids and Plazas

30 October 2024

30 October 2024

Tulane University researchers used laser-guided imaging to uncover vast unexplored Maya settlements in Campeche, Mexico, revealing more than 6,500 pre-Hispanic...

A stone bathtub, which is considered to be the first example of ‘water birth’, was found in Ani Ruins

7 September 2022

7 September 2022

A stone tub was found in the large bath, whose birth was mentioned in a work by the Turkish scholar...

Enigmas Roman Dodecahedron Uncovered by Amateur Archaeologists in the UK

24 January 2024

24 January 2024

Amateur archaeologists have unearthed a striking Roman dodecahedron in the serene countryside of Norton Disney, England, a mysterious class of...

Britain’s oldest decoratively piece of carved wood discovered in a layer of peat

8 June 2023

8 June 2023

A heavily notched oak timber found in a peat layer during construction work turned out to be the oldest piece...

Magnificent Discovery: A Major Tomb Filled with Gold and Ceramic Artifacts was Discovered in Panama

3 March 2024

3 March 2024

In an archaeological find in the El Caño Archaeological Park, located in the district of Natá, province of Coclé, in...

Archaeologists have discovered a 4,000-year-old burial ground and shell tool processing site in Taiwan

1 August 2022

1 August 2022

A 4,000-year-old cemetery and shell tool processing site has been discovered in Kenting National Park, Taiwan’s oldest and southernmost national...

Anatolia’s first company was founded 4000 years ago with 15 kilos of gold!

26 May 2024

26 May 2024

A 4,000-year-old tablet found in Kültepe shows that the first company in Anatolia was established by 12 people with 15...

Archaeologists have found an intriguing Iron Age “shrine” in the Yorkshire Wolds

19 September 2021

19 September 2021

Archaeologists have discovered an interesting ancient Iron Age “shrine” in the Yorkshire Wolds, which was marked out by meticulously placed...

A unique 2,800-year-old ivory-decorated piece was discovered in the Ancient City of Hattusa

13 November 2023

13 November 2023

An ivory-decorated piece, estimated to be approximately 2,800 years old, was found during the archaeological excavation in the Hattusa Ancient...

Archaeologists found 5 unique sculptures representing the Kakatiya art style in Siddipet

19 July 2021

19 July 2021

13th-century statues were found near a temple tank in the Siddipet district in the northern province of Telangana, India. On...

A new study provides evidence that modern humans, coexisted in the same region with Neanderthals for thousands of years

11 February 2024

11 February 2024

A genetic analysis of bone fragments excavated from an archaeological site in Ranis, Germany provides conclusive evidence that modern humans...

3,000-Year-Old Conical Axe Believed to Have Fallen from the Sky: Possibly Made from Meteorite

27 August 2025

27 August 2025

A rare Bronze Age conical axe, over 3,000 years old and possibly crafted from meteorite metal, has been recently discovered...