Muhu ‘town’ described by a 13th-century chronicler: a late prehistoric and medieval site complex

Abstract

The article presents the results of archaeological investigations conducted in 2025–2026 around the Muhu hill fort on Muhu Island, western Estonia. The fieldwork revealed an extensive late prehistoric and medieval site complex consisting of the hill fort, a settlement area, smaller activity zones, and a probable harbour site. The most intensive cultural layer was identified east of the hill fort, covering approximately 4.6 hectares. Trial trenching uncovered preserved 12th–13th-century occupation layers and building remains. The find assemblage included ornaments, everyday objects, production debris, and pottery dating from the 10th to the 18th centuries, although the majority of the finds date from the mid-12th to the 14th century. The study also addresses the interpretation of coin finds from settlement layers, suggesting that at least part of the material reflects everyday use of silver coins rather than dispersed hoards. Combining archaeological and written evidence, the article argues that the settlement site can likely be identified with the urbs (‘town’) mentioned in the chronicle of Henry of Livonia in connection with the conquest of Muhu in 1227.