As powerful economic and cultural centers, fortified sites played an important role in early medieval society. In Central Europe, early medieval fortified site research has been an essential topic for several generations. However, gradual changes in the landscape are a threat to these cultural heritage monuments. The main task of this paper was to compare the previous results from archaeological excavations with new data acquired by geophysical methods. The presented study is based on the three methods widely used in archaeology: magnetometry, ground-penetrating radar, and electrical resistivity tomography. New surveys provide information about the internal structure and the state of preservation of the fortifications in a non-destructive way. Comparison of the results encourages the evaluation of archaeological excavation and helps determine the suitability and effectiveness of geophysical methods in specific natural conditions.

Seemingly empty spaces in various archaeological settings have left many unanswered questions. This paper focuses on the appearance, maintenance and possible function of a large empty area situated at the summit plateau of the Iron Age oppidum Bibracte in France. Multidisciplinary research of the infill of the ditch that delimited this area in the 1^st century BC has provided evidence on the primary function and the formation processes of the structure itself, and for the reconstruction of the appearance, maintenance and function of the area it enclosed. The results allow us to gain insight into a variety of topics, including the role of trees, hygiene measures and waste management strategies at this urbanised hilltop centre. This paper demonstrates that multi-proxy analyses provide detailed insight into the function of archaeological features in a local environmental context and the potential of such approaches in archaeology.

The study presents the results of a wide range of research approaches and surveys of the defunct mining centre at Buchberg in the region of Havlíčkův Brod, which was involved in silver production in the 13th and 14th centuries. Burchberg is exceptional in its size and well-advanced community infrastructure. Its significance is also reflected in written sources. Surveys and trial diggings focused on the residential area, and especially on the adjoining metallurgical facilities providing unique spatial information, as well as a wealth of valuable data obtained by analysing archaeometallurgical materials, representing the links in the operational chain, staring with the raw ore extraction and ending with the final production of the desired metals. The current deforestation of mining field relics enabled their three-dimensional survey, and, thus, providing a hitherto unknown view of the spatial structure of historical mining activities.