Stone, brick, earth, wood

Wood may seem to be the most archaic and the least resistant fortification material but actually, it is not. Apart from such advantages as accessibility and simplicity of processing, wood also has other advantages. It is flexible and, depending on the species, absorbs the kinetic energy of a bullet well or very well. Moreover, it cooperates with earth very well; multilayer wooden and earthen structures proved very effective also during the two world wars. One should bear in mind that one of the most interesting engineering designs of Tadeusz Kościuszko was a hexagonal, artillery tower made from earth and wood and built for the first time in West Point Fortress, USA. Excellent and modern designs of lunettes* with redoubts and blockhouses made from earth and wood were made by Colonel Ignacy Prądzyński, who was in charge of Zamość fortifications at the time of the November Uprising.

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  Project of the tower fort of Tadeusz Kościuszko. Freehand drawing by general and engineer from the time of the American campaign.

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