extended abstracts - Geomorphic Processes and Geoarchaeology

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Geomorphic processes and geoarchaeology Important finds, like spurs or a golden book clasp, indicate the importance of Meetschow in the 10 th c., which was at that time at least a local centre with some good expectations for future development. It can be assumed that the main reason for the increasing significance of Meetschow in the 9 th and 10 th centuries was its topographical controlling position on the intersection of a water route and a land route. Figure 1. The probable course of the eastern border of Charlemagne’s Empire with some places which are mentioned in the Diedenhofen Capitulary of 805 (modified after [2], p. 252, fig. 76) But then the situation changed. There is strong evidence for a heavy natural event in the second half of the 10 th c. AD, or may be a series of closely spaced natural events. All around the Höhbeck we found evidence for destructions by flooding, which we are able to date into the 10 th c. East of the Höhbeck the ditch of the by then already destroyed stronghold in the Elbholz was completely filled up with sedimentary sandy deposits. They could be dated by OSL (optically stimulated luminescence) into the 10 th c. AD [1]. The excavations in Lenzen on the right river bank revealed evidence of struggling with floodings between the first construction of a stronghold around 945 AD and the next, completely rebuilt stronghold of the early 980 s [4]. Corresponding evidence could be recovered in the surroundings of Meetschow on the westside of the Höhbeck. We succeeded to date the running of a dead river branch to the early 10 th c. AD. Meetschow as well as two contemporaneous Slavonic settlements were situated on the shore of this river. We tend to consider this river branch as one of the main arms of the 9 th /10 th c. Elbe, running south of the Höhbeck at that time. The front of the Meetschow stronghold, which was built in the 940 s (dendrochronologically dated), was completely destroyed by a heavy natural event, probably a flooding. There is no evidence of repair in the further course of the 10 th c. In Meetschow, as well as in the mentioned river segment, there are thick sedimentary deposits, which we unfortunately are not able to date exactly. We can only 233
Geomorphic processes and geoarchaeology assume the middle of the 10 th c. as a terminus post quem for their deposition [5]. Summing up the different evidences we can conclude, that sometime between 950 and 980 AD one or several heavy flooding events caused great impact on the topographical situation around the Höhbeck. In all probability it was just at that time that the main arm of the Elbe turned to run north of the Höhbeck, where it is still running today. Figure 2. The «Höhbeck» in the Elbe-valley and the early medieval fortifications. Charlemagne’s castellum hohbuoki on top of the Höhbeck In consequence of the changed river course the way of its passage was most likely modified too. It is striking that the further development in Meetschow was declining until the final abandonment of the place sometime in the 12 th / 13 th c. In the beginning of the 11 th c. the old stronghold was rebuilt and than used as a motte for a local lower noble of minor importance. However, trade and craft in the nearby rural settlements prospered during the 11 th c. In contrast the stronghold in Lenzen on the other bank of the river was rebuilt in the very beginning of the 980 s and then continued to develop. Lenzen became the main center of prosperity and town-development in this region. It is typical and characteristic for the 11 th c. that there can be observed a focus on only a few local central sites which were developing into regional centres, often adopting the function of older sites [6]. We can notice a corresponding situation at the Höhbeck, where Lenzen took over the functions of Meetschow and developed into the administrative and political centre of the region. Of course we will never know the exact reasons for this development, but obviously the topographical position of Lenzen was better suited to the new requirements of political centres in the 11 th c. than this of the Meetschow site. The drastic transformation of river course and landscape during the 10 th c. at the Höhbeck at least promoted this political process, if it was not actually the main cause for it. It is a matter of particular interest that there can be observed very similar processes all over Europe during the 10 th and 11 th c. AD. It is a main challenge for today’s geoarchaeological research to evaluate the impact of natural events and landscape 234
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Ghahroudi Tali M. 13, 102 Giligny F
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Volokitin A.V. 281 Voronin K.V. 76
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