Wielkie krakowskie kopce Krakusa i Wandy odwiecznymi składnikami panoramy miasta i świadectwem przemian polityczno-społecznych końca epoki plemiennej IX-X w

Grand Krakow mounds of Krakus, Wanda and the less documented of Esterka, since time immemorial have constituted an important part of the panorama and history of Kraków. Since Medieval times they were a large part in the considerations of historians which connected them with Kraków legend about the origin of the country written down, by Master Wincenty Kadłubek at the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries. The Krakus' Mound was examined in the years 1934-37 with the thought to find the grave of legendary Prince Krak. The works allowed to define the time it was founded that is the 8th-10th centuries. As concerns the Wanda Mound, a document dating back to the year 1222 confirms the tradition of its function as a grave. On the mounds of Krakus and Wanda pagan ceremonies and tribal gatherings took place. Close to them churches were built early which were distinct contrast of Christian cult with old pagan practice. Long lasting archaeological researches, few written records from the 9th and 10th centuries indicate that Kraków during the 9th century became a city centre of differing functions and with its own sepulchral and ceremonious centre (areas of Krakus' and Wanda's mounds). Such a position of Kraków can also be read out in the Kraków legend. Its hero, Krak, comes to Kraków region from faraway Karinthia at the time of tribal conflicts. At the tribal assembly he presents his conditions of ruling. He is accepted, makes the rules, founds his seat, Kraków, a city which gets his name. The city is a symbol of new order with a differentiated social and profesional structure, ruler at the lead, residential centre, market and sepulchral and ceremonial centre, where the ruler finds a place for his eternal rest. The leaders nominated on the spot by the tribal society tried to prolong this state of temporary leadership into eternity. In their striving to preserve their power they used various ways, including the control over places of cult and people's meetings. This undoubtedly referred to the Krzemionki necropolis. In the central part of the existing grave-mound cemetery a monumental mound is created - the grave of the creator of new order, Krak. Large mounds-graves were the purposeful demonstration of power and strength of the ruler. The whole of the information concerning Krakow indicates that in the 9th and the first half of the 10th centuries it became a centre of local organisation over the tribe, based on the system of leadership, sometimes reshaped into short-term hereditary leadership. Only at that time could the mounds-graves be created as monuments of the early rulers.