Stone Circles in Grzybnica

The Stone Circles in the forest near Grzybnica form an archaeological reserve with a cemetery from the 1st to 3rd century AD. In the area, overgrown with coniferous forest, you can see five stone circles, two barrows and various kinds of paving. The grave goods found here belong to the Wielbark culture.

Location and access

The cemetery lies in Manowo municipality, by national road no. 11, about 20 kilometres south-east of Koszalin. It is about 2.5 kilometres north of the village of Grzybnica and about 3 kilometres east of Mostowo. Forest tracks lead to the cemetery, so reaching it requires a walk. Several information boards have been installed in the reserve.

Discovery and research

Local people knew the place even before the Second World War, but they misinterpreted it and called it a "Jewish cemetery". It was discovered for science in April 1974 by the archaeologist Ryszard Wołągiewicz, head of the Archaeological Department of the National Museum in Szczecin. Work continued from 1974 to 1986 and covered about 3 hectares. In 1979 the archaeological reserve "Stone Circles in the Grzybnica Forest" was established: the ground was lowered to its original level and the tree stand was thinned out.

What you will see

The two largest circles have a diameter of 36 metres. In the first, 20 of the original 33 upright boulders, 1.2 to 1.5 metres high, have survived, and in the second 16. The boulders stand about every 3.5 metres, and some bear traces of working. The other three circles are smaller, with diameters of 13, 7 and 15 metres. The fifth lies about 200 metres north of the rest. Archaeologists also recorded 14 flat circular paved areas, 6 cremation pyres and 101 inhumation and cremation burials.

The function of the circles has not been explained conclusively. The prevailing view is that they were a meeting place for the local community. Because the site was a cemetery, calm and respectful behaviour is expected there.

Practical information

• Location: forest by national road no. 11, Manowo municipality, Koszalin County.
• Access is along forest tracks, and there are information boards on site. Check the rules of entry and opening hours, if any apply, with the manager of the reserve before you travel.
• The nearest site on our list is the church in Kłanino, a few kilometres away.