extended abstracts - Geomorphic Processes and Geoarchaeology
extended abstracts - Geomorphic Processes and Geoarchaeology
extended abstracts - Geomorphic Processes and Geoarchaeology
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<strong>Geomorphic</strong> processes <strong>and</strong> geoarchaeology<br />
Important finds, like spurs or a golden book clasp, indicate the importance of Meetschow<br />
in the 10 th c., which was at that time at least a local centre with some good expectations<br />
for future development.<br />
It can be assumed that the main reason for the increasing significance of<br />
Meetschow in the 9 th <strong>and</strong> 10 th centuries was its topographical controlling position on the<br />
intersection of a water route <strong>and</strong> a l<strong>and</strong> route.<br />
Figure 1. The probable course of the eastern border of Charlemagne’s Empire with some<br />
places which are mentioned in the Diedenhofen Capitulary of 805 (modified after [2],<br />
p. 252, fig. 76)<br />
But then the situation changed. There is strong evidence for a heavy natural event<br />
in the second half of the 10 th c. AD, or may be a series of closely spaced natural events.<br />
All around the Höhbeck we found evidence for destructions by flooding, which we are<br />
able to date into the 10 th c. East of the Höhbeck the ditch of the by then already destroyed<br />
stronghold in the Elbholz was completely filled up with sedimentary s<strong>and</strong>y deposits.<br />
They could be dated by OSL (optically stimulated luminescence) into the 10 th c. AD [1].<br />
The excavations in Lenzen on the right river bank revealed evidence of struggling with<br />
floodings between the first construction of a stronghold around 945 AD <strong>and</strong> the next,<br />
completely rebuilt stronghold of the early 980 s [4]. Corresponding evidence could be<br />
recovered in the surroundings of Meetschow on the westside of the Höhbeck. We<br />
succeeded to date the running of a dead river branch to the early 10 th c. AD. Meetschow<br />
as well as two contemporaneous Slavonic settlements were situated on the shore of this<br />
river. We tend to consider this river branch as one of the main arms of the 9 th /10 th c. Elbe,<br />
running south of the Höhbeck at that time. The front of the Meetschow stronghold, which<br />
was built in the 940 s (dendrochronologically dated), was completely destroyed by a heavy<br />
natural event, probably a flooding. There is no evidence of repair in the further course of<br />
the 10 th c. In Meetschow, as well as in the mentioned river segment, there are thick<br />
sedimentary deposits, which we unfortunately are not able to date exactly. We can only<br />
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