DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68368#0244
Sections ofthe earthworks of Grossenrode-14 and
Obernjesa-16 were excavated and parallel results
could be found mainly in Western Germany. With
a diameter of 190 m (inside area about 2-3 ha) the
structure of Grossenrode presently represents the
largest known specimen of middle-neolithic (pha-
se Planig-Friedberg) earthworks. On the basis of
the archeological features the reconstruction of a
ditch originally 1.2 m deep with a 0.6 m wide ditch
floor appears probable, as well as a palisade with
an assumed earth rampart. The chronological rela-
tionship between the Grossenrode earthwork and
the Settlement located mainly in its inner section
could not definitely be clarified on the basis of
available pottery finds - overlapping archaeolog-
ical features providing relevant Information are
also missing. The filling material of the earthwork
ditch contained pottery ofthe phase Planig-Fried-
berg to Early Rössen, so one can assume that the
ditch was installed during the Planig-Friedberg
phase (or earlier). Finds related to the longhous-
es belong predominantly to the same horizon and
indicate a possibly slightly later period for the Set-
tlement.
Less information is available about the nature of
middle-neolithic burial practices. So far, there is
no evidence in the region of study of definitely
defined middle-neolithic grave sites - the circum-
stances of discovery of some vessels that are con-
spicuously complete, for instance from Edesheim-
1 and Edesheim-3, Ldkr. Northeim, might be inter-
preted as indications of burial sites not recognized
at the time of recovery. Several pit inventories, but
above all the Rössen-dated graves at Wittmar,
Ldkr. Wolfenbüttel, and comparing features from
other areas exemplify that stray finds which usu-
ally cannot be associated with a certain culture
may be contributed to a middle-neolithic context.
Such stray finds may be Danubian Axes, for
instance the formerly called „Rössen Adzes,, as
well as different adze forms and possibly also axes
with rectangular section. In the region under con-
sideration a total of 71 Danubian Axes could be
documented.
In addition to the consideration given to stone
artefacts and other groups of finds special empha-
sis is being placed in this study on a differentiat-
ed analysis of vessel forms and Ornaments of the
ceramic material. In order to avoid unnecessary
terminological confusion an effort was made to
adjust largely to the typo-chronological System
established recently by Spatz (1996) for the cen-
tral Neckarland, which can be applied to the entire
Southwest German region and beyond. As a result,
on one side a far-reaching correspondenc in forms
and ornamentations of vessels became evident, on
the other side there were specific differences in
decoration and form that can be considered as typ-
ical for the local region of study. Fürther compar-
ison ultimately indicates relations to west and cen-
tral German areas of middle-neolithic cultural
occurence.
The study concludes with a discussion of the
chronological relations on the basis of the findings
presented as well as of the mutual influences
between the local region and other areas of middle-
neolithic cultural context. With respect to numer-
ous aspects in question basic archaeological
sources are still inadequate in the region of study
at the present time and new material will have to
become available to improve this Situation.
Translated by Ursula Werben
226
Obernjesa-16 were excavated and parallel results
could be found mainly in Western Germany. With
a diameter of 190 m (inside area about 2-3 ha) the
structure of Grossenrode presently represents the
largest known specimen of middle-neolithic (pha-
se Planig-Friedberg) earthworks. On the basis of
the archeological features the reconstruction of a
ditch originally 1.2 m deep with a 0.6 m wide ditch
floor appears probable, as well as a palisade with
an assumed earth rampart. The chronological rela-
tionship between the Grossenrode earthwork and
the Settlement located mainly in its inner section
could not definitely be clarified on the basis of
available pottery finds - overlapping archaeolog-
ical features providing relevant Information are
also missing. The filling material of the earthwork
ditch contained pottery ofthe phase Planig-Fried-
berg to Early Rössen, so one can assume that the
ditch was installed during the Planig-Friedberg
phase (or earlier). Finds related to the longhous-
es belong predominantly to the same horizon and
indicate a possibly slightly later period for the Set-
tlement.
Less information is available about the nature of
middle-neolithic burial practices. So far, there is
no evidence in the region of study of definitely
defined middle-neolithic grave sites - the circum-
stances of discovery of some vessels that are con-
spicuously complete, for instance from Edesheim-
1 and Edesheim-3, Ldkr. Northeim, might be inter-
preted as indications of burial sites not recognized
at the time of recovery. Several pit inventories, but
above all the Rössen-dated graves at Wittmar,
Ldkr. Wolfenbüttel, and comparing features from
other areas exemplify that stray finds which usu-
ally cannot be associated with a certain culture
may be contributed to a middle-neolithic context.
Such stray finds may be Danubian Axes, for
instance the formerly called „Rössen Adzes,, as
well as different adze forms and possibly also axes
with rectangular section. In the region under con-
sideration a total of 71 Danubian Axes could be
documented.
In addition to the consideration given to stone
artefacts and other groups of finds special empha-
sis is being placed in this study on a differentiat-
ed analysis of vessel forms and Ornaments of the
ceramic material. In order to avoid unnecessary
terminological confusion an effort was made to
adjust largely to the typo-chronological System
established recently by Spatz (1996) for the cen-
tral Neckarland, which can be applied to the entire
Southwest German region and beyond. As a result,
on one side a far-reaching correspondenc in forms
and ornamentations of vessels became evident, on
the other side there were specific differences in
decoration and form that can be considered as typ-
ical for the local region of study. Fürther compar-
ison ultimately indicates relations to west and cen-
tral German areas of middle-neolithic cultural
occurence.
The study concludes with a discussion of the
chronological relations on the basis of the findings
presented as well as of the mutual influences
between the local region and other areas of middle-
neolithic cultural context. With respect to numer-
ous aspects in question basic archaeological
sources are still inadequate in the region of study
at the present time and new material will have to
become available to improve this Situation.
Translated by Ursula Werben
226