DOI chapter:
Changing Worlds – The Spread of the Neolithic Way of Life in the North
DOI chapter:Philippi, Alexandra: The Schöningen group and the cultural development around 4,000 calBC
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.66745#0413
412
The Schoningen group and the cultural development around 4,000 calBC
enclosure landscapes in the Leine-Weser area and the
question of the neolithisation of the north.
Find complexes from sites such as Rossing or
Miisleringen are particularly qualified for these ques-
tions. Above all, the site Miisleringen is in the focus
of research, since its find material - quantitatively
and qualitatively most extensive of this region - so far
allows an evaluation that goes beyond a mere sam-
pling character. In a whole series of find complexes
of Lower Saxony, elements of the Michelsberg and
early Funnel Beaker cultures can be proven. They
have a completely different character than those of
the Michelsberg main group. A clear attribution does
not seem possible, but a correlation with the Funnel
Beaker culture is often mentioned.
The work carried out so far has given the image
of the enclosure landscapes in the Leine-Weser area a
significantly new character (Fig. 7). An accumulation
of potential enclosures in the Hanover region is be-
coming apparent, which needs to be verified by further
studies. The region on the middle Weser, where three
enclosures have been detected, can be considered a
promising starting point for future research into the
Late Neolithic enclosures in this area. The northern
relations of this region in the Late Neolithic - located
directly on the Weser corridor - are also moving into
the focus of research, as is the associated neolithisa-
tion of the north. The construction of the Miisleringen
enclosure happened during a period of social upheaval
with new forms of interrelationships, which become
apparent in the typological changes in the pottery
spectrum from 4,100 BC at the latest.
Swifterbant culture
While in northern Europe there is a shift from the
Ertebolle to the early Funnel Beaker culture and
the introduction of an agrarian way of life, from the
Scheldt to the Elbe river a late Mesolithic society that
is also in a state of change can be ascertained (Rae-
maekers 2015, 322). The early Swifterbant culture
is a phenomenon that has not yet been sufficiently
researched (Raemaekers 2005, 29; Ten Anscher
2015, 336). Its earliest pottery dates back to around
5,000 calBC (Raemaekers 2015, 322; on the earliest
pottery see Raemaekers 2008). In its middle phase
(4,600-3,900/3,800 calBC), rim decorations of the
vessels occur more frequently and in more variation.
The vessels show an S-shaped profile, and their bot-
toms are pointed or rounded. They are decorated on
the neck or shoulder, more rarely on the rim or below
the rim. The decorations consist of one or more rows
of vertical impressions or finger spots. Sometimes the
vessels may also be decorated all over with impres-
sions or fingertip impressed decorations (Raemaekers
1999, 108, 111). The late phase (3,900/3,800-3,400
calBC) ends with the beginning of the western group
of the Funnel Beaker culture (Raemaekers 1999,112).
While the subsistence economy of the earliest phase
consisted of hunting and fishing, in the middle phase
agricultural activities were partly carried out, probably
due to contacts with Neolithic cultures (Raemaekers
1999, 113, 115).
Throughout the entire period, a frequent interac-
tion with the neighbouring farming culture is notice-
able in the pottery spectrum of the Swifterbant culture,
probably due to contacts with the Linear Pottery cul-
ture and the subsequent societies. Furthermore, there
are ceramics, including elements from the Bischheim
and Michelsberg culture as well as round and flat
bottoms.
Although a direct influence of the Swifterbant
culture on the development of the early Funnel Bea-
ker culture is thus not unlikely, it cannot be excluded
that individual elements of the middle phase of the
Swifterbant culture or the Pre-Drouwen phase (Ten
Anscher 2015, 335-336) were transferred, for exam-
ple, from the neighbouring Michelsberg. Pre-Drouwen
phase pottery is also found at the site Hude I at the
Dummer lake in Lower Saxony and shows clear ref-
erences to the Michelsberg culture (Ten Anscher
2015, 349-353). The site Hunte 3, distr. Vechta, during
recent excavations also yielded flint artefacts which
indicate a still Mesolithic tradition, while the few deco-
rated pottery fragments can be assigned to the horizon
of the Swifterbant culture (Heumuller et al. 2017).
An interaction of the Michelsberg culture and
the Swifterbant culture probably played a role in the
formation of the early Funnel Beaker culture in the
area of the North German Plain.
Conclusion - Michelsberg as a source
of inspiration
In summary, based on the current state of research,
especially with regard to the findings of the early
Funnel Beaker culture in northern Germany, it can
be concluded that the formation of the early Funnel
Beaker culture is obviously an autochthonous devel-
opment under the influence of agricultural societies
from the south, especially the Michelsberg culture.
Numerous Michelsberg elements such as clay discs,
arcade rims, round-bottomed funnel-beakers, bottles
or bowls underline this hypothesis. On the other
hand, there are elements that are rather untypical
The Schoningen group and the cultural development around 4,000 calBC
enclosure landscapes in the Leine-Weser area and the
question of the neolithisation of the north.
Find complexes from sites such as Rossing or
Miisleringen are particularly qualified for these ques-
tions. Above all, the site Miisleringen is in the focus
of research, since its find material - quantitatively
and qualitatively most extensive of this region - so far
allows an evaluation that goes beyond a mere sam-
pling character. In a whole series of find complexes
of Lower Saxony, elements of the Michelsberg and
early Funnel Beaker cultures can be proven. They
have a completely different character than those of
the Michelsberg main group. A clear attribution does
not seem possible, but a correlation with the Funnel
Beaker culture is often mentioned.
The work carried out so far has given the image
of the enclosure landscapes in the Leine-Weser area a
significantly new character (Fig. 7). An accumulation
of potential enclosures in the Hanover region is be-
coming apparent, which needs to be verified by further
studies. The region on the middle Weser, where three
enclosures have been detected, can be considered a
promising starting point for future research into the
Late Neolithic enclosures in this area. The northern
relations of this region in the Late Neolithic - located
directly on the Weser corridor - are also moving into
the focus of research, as is the associated neolithisa-
tion of the north. The construction of the Miisleringen
enclosure happened during a period of social upheaval
with new forms of interrelationships, which become
apparent in the typological changes in the pottery
spectrum from 4,100 BC at the latest.
Swifterbant culture
While in northern Europe there is a shift from the
Ertebolle to the early Funnel Beaker culture and
the introduction of an agrarian way of life, from the
Scheldt to the Elbe river a late Mesolithic society that
is also in a state of change can be ascertained (Rae-
maekers 2015, 322). The early Swifterbant culture
is a phenomenon that has not yet been sufficiently
researched (Raemaekers 2005, 29; Ten Anscher
2015, 336). Its earliest pottery dates back to around
5,000 calBC (Raemaekers 2015, 322; on the earliest
pottery see Raemaekers 2008). In its middle phase
(4,600-3,900/3,800 calBC), rim decorations of the
vessels occur more frequently and in more variation.
The vessels show an S-shaped profile, and their bot-
toms are pointed or rounded. They are decorated on
the neck or shoulder, more rarely on the rim or below
the rim. The decorations consist of one or more rows
of vertical impressions or finger spots. Sometimes the
vessels may also be decorated all over with impres-
sions or fingertip impressed decorations (Raemaekers
1999, 108, 111). The late phase (3,900/3,800-3,400
calBC) ends with the beginning of the western group
of the Funnel Beaker culture (Raemaekers 1999,112).
While the subsistence economy of the earliest phase
consisted of hunting and fishing, in the middle phase
agricultural activities were partly carried out, probably
due to contacts with Neolithic cultures (Raemaekers
1999, 113, 115).
Throughout the entire period, a frequent interac-
tion with the neighbouring farming culture is notice-
able in the pottery spectrum of the Swifterbant culture,
probably due to contacts with the Linear Pottery cul-
ture and the subsequent societies. Furthermore, there
are ceramics, including elements from the Bischheim
and Michelsberg culture as well as round and flat
bottoms.
Although a direct influence of the Swifterbant
culture on the development of the early Funnel Bea-
ker culture is thus not unlikely, it cannot be excluded
that individual elements of the middle phase of the
Swifterbant culture or the Pre-Drouwen phase (Ten
Anscher 2015, 335-336) were transferred, for exam-
ple, from the neighbouring Michelsberg. Pre-Drouwen
phase pottery is also found at the site Hude I at the
Dummer lake in Lower Saxony and shows clear ref-
erences to the Michelsberg culture (Ten Anscher
2015, 349-353). The site Hunte 3, distr. Vechta, during
recent excavations also yielded flint artefacts which
indicate a still Mesolithic tradition, while the few deco-
rated pottery fragments can be assigned to the horizon
of the Swifterbant culture (Heumuller et al. 2017).
An interaction of the Michelsberg culture and
the Swifterbant culture probably played a role in the
formation of the early Funnel Beaker culture in the
area of the North German Plain.
Conclusion - Michelsberg as a source
of inspiration
In summary, based on the current state of research,
especially with regard to the findings of the early
Funnel Beaker culture in northern Germany, it can
be concluded that the formation of the early Funnel
Beaker culture is obviously an autochthonous devel-
opment under the influence of agricultural societies
from the south, especially the Michelsberg culture.
Numerous Michelsberg elements such as clay discs,
arcade rims, round-bottomed funnel-beakers, bottles
or bowls underline this hypothesis. On the other
hand, there are elements that are rather untypical