Recent work at the important Neolithic site of Bylany (Czechoslovakia) has shifted from the large-scale open-area excavations of the 1960s to intensive field survey and selective excavation. The 1991 investigation concentrated on the so-called ‘Rondel’, a multivallate enclosure with entrances at the cardinal points. Analysis of the internal structures revealed suggests that the main function of these features was ceremonial.

The Neolithic site in Bylany (Kutná Hora district) was systematically surveyed between 1953 and 1967 to the southeast of today's village and afterwards the history of the settlement was gradually supplemented with information concerning other microareas (Bylany 1-5) within this cadastre (Figure 1). Located in the western part was the Neolithic microarea designated as Bylany 4; in accordance with its surface surveys and sondages, its range and cultural content were determined as belonging to the period of Linear Pottery culture (LBK) and Stroked Pottery culture (SBK). Already the first probe from 1965, which was conducted roughly in a southeast-northwest direction through the central part of this microarea, uncovered two ditches with a tapering (V) profile (Zápotocká, 1983). These features were reminiscent of other rather well-known (but at that time still quite rare) circular enclosures with ditches from the period of the Stroked Pottery and Lengyel culture in the area of the