Revealing the Origins: An Interdisciplinary Study Into the Provenance of Sacral Microarchitecture–The Unique Case of the Church Model From Žatec in Bohemia

A rare stone model of a Romanesque church from 12th-century Žatec, Bohemia, offers unprecedented insights into the evolution of votive offerings and the intersection of artistic, architectural, and religious traditions. This unique microarchitecture, depicting a single-nave church with a semicircular apse, is one of the few surviving examples from early medieval Europe north of the Alps. The study employs X-ray powder diffraction to analyze its material provenance, while iconographic parallels—particularly with the obverse of Svatopluk's denarius (1107–1109)—suggest strong ties to contemporary visual and political culture. This artifact bridges symbolic representation and architectural practice, providing a tangible link between late antique, Byzantine, and early medieval traditions.

Tůmová, H., Čech, P., Přikryl, R., & Kuchařová, A. (2025). Revealing the Origins: An Interdisciplinary Study Into the Provenance of Sacral Microarchitecture–The Unique Case of the Church Model From Žatec in Bohemia. Open Archaeology, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2025-0059