In: Albrecht S., Daim F., Herdick M. (Hrsg.) Die Höhensiedlungen im Bergland der Krim. Umwelt, Kulturaustausch und Transformation am Nordrand des Byzantinischen Reiches. Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum. Forschungsinstitut für Archäologie. Mainz 2013, S. 335-360.
ABSTRACT Seit alters her war das 30 m oberhalb von Salza und Saale gelegene Plateau nahe der heut... more ABSTRACT Seit alters her war das 30 m oberhalb von Salza und Saale gelegene Plateau nahe der heutigen Ortschaft Salzmünde begehrt. Früheste Zeugnisse stammen aus der jüngeren Altsteinzeit, während des Frühneolithikums wurden umwehrte Weiler angelegt. Später errichtete man am dominanten nördlichen Sporn einen großen Grabhügel, der noch fast ein halbes Jahrtausend erhalten und unangetastet blieb. Noch heute birgt das Erdwerk von Salzmünde zahlreiche Geheimnisse: Wozu diente der Platz? Wer hat die nur kurzzeitig genutzte Anlage erbaut? Und wer fand hier seine letzte Ruhe?
ABSTRACT Seit alters her war das 30 m oberhalb von Salza und Saale gelegene Plateau nahe der heut... more ABSTRACT Seit alters her war das 30 m oberhalb von Salza und Saale gelegene Plateau nahe der heutigen Ortschaft Salzmünde begehrt. Früheste Zeugnisse stammen aus der jüngeren Altsteinzeit, während des Frühneolithikums wurden umwehrte Weiler angelegt. Später errichtete man am dominanten nördlichen Sporn einen großen Grabhügel, der noch fast ein halbes Jahrtausend erhalten und unangetastet blieb. Noch heute birgt das Erdwerk von Salzmünde zahlreiche Geheimnisse: Wozu diente der Platz? Wer hat die nur kurzzeitig genutzte Anlage erbaut? Und wer fand hier seine letzte Ruhe?
The circular enclosure of Pömmelte-Zackmünde, Saxony- Anhalt, Germany, is one of the few sanctuar... more The circular enclosure of Pömmelte-Zackmünde, Saxony- Anhalt, Germany, is one of the few sanctuaries dating to the transitional period from the Final Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age in Central Europe. Its significance as a place for religious and ideologically motivated activities including ritual performance can be deduced from the enclosure’ s complex architectural design, numerous deliberate depositions and the finds. In this respect the most intriguing features are several graves and 29 shaft- like pits containing offerings or disposed ceremonial paraphernalia.
The enclosure’s importance as a place to reinforce social order is demonstrated by the very diverse set of human skeletal remains. Of particular interest are two opposing groups of inhumation. The first group are ‘regular’ graves of adult men that respect the monument’s circular layout. The formal burial within the enclosure was probably something not granted to everyone and may be regarded as an act of reverence. The second group are deviant burials of infants, juveniles, and females that were thrown into the depositional shafts aforementioned. Most of the skeletons miss body parts and some bear multiple perimortal traumata. The evidence indicate the impious treatment of the individuals and that at least some were killed. Possibly these acts had ritual meanings. A third group, consisting of deliberate depositions of human skulls, and some isolated human remains complement the archaeological evidence for the various social practices related to the sanctuary of Pömmelte-Zackmünde.
In: Albrecht S., Daim F., Herdick M. (Hrsg.) Die Höhensiedlungen im Bergland der Krim. Umwelt, Kulturaustausch und Transformation am Nordrand des Byzantinischen Reiches. Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum. Forschungsinstitut für Archäologie. Mainz 2013, S. 335-360.
ABSTRACT Seit alters her war das 30 m oberhalb von Salza und Saale gelegene Plateau nahe der heut... more ABSTRACT Seit alters her war das 30 m oberhalb von Salza und Saale gelegene Plateau nahe der heutigen Ortschaft Salzmünde begehrt. Früheste Zeugnisse stammen aus der jüngeren Altsteinzeit, während des Frühneolithikums wurden umwehrte Weiler angelegt. Später errichtete man am dominanten nördlichen Sporn einen großen Grabhügel, der noch fast ein halbes Jahrtausend erhalten und unangetastet blieb. Noch heute birgt das Erdwerk von Salzmünde zahlreiche Geheimnisse: Wozu diente der Platz? Wer hat die nur kurzzeitig genutzte Anlage erbaut? Und wer fand hier seine letzte Ruhe?
ABSTRACT Seit alters her war das 30 m oberhalb von Salza und Saale gelegene Plateau nahe der heut... more ABSTRACT Seit alters her war das 30 m oberhalb von Salza und Saale gelegene Plateau nahe der heutigen Ortschaft Salzmünde begehrt. Früheste Zeugnisse stammen aus der jüngeren Altsteinzeit, während des Frühneolithikums wurden umwehrte Weiler angelegt. Später errichtete man am dominanten nördlichen Sporn einen großen Grabhügel, der noch fast ein halbes Jahrtausend erhalten und unangetastet blieb. Noch heute birgt das Erdwerk von Salzmünde zahlreiche Geheimnisse: Wozu diente der Platz? Wer hat die nur kurzzeitig genutzte Anlage erbaut? Und wer fand hier seine letzte Ruhe?
The circular enclosure of Pömmelte-Zackmünde, Saxony- Anhalt, Germany, is one of the few sanctuar... more The circular enclosure of Pömmelte-Zackmünde, Saxony- Anhalt, Germany, is one of the few sanctuaries dating to the transitional period from the Final Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age in Central Europe. Its significance as a place for religious and ideologically motivated activities including ritual performance can be deduced from the enclosure’ s complex architectural design, numerous deliberate depositions and the finds. In this respect the most intriguing features are several graves and 29 shaft- like pits containing offerings or disposed ceremonial paraphernalia.
The enclosure’s importance as a place to reinforce social order is demonstrated by the very diverse set of human skeletal remains. Of particular interest are two opposing groups of inhumation. The first group are ‘regular’ graves of adult men that respect the monument’s circular layout. The formal burial within the enclosure was probably something not granted to everyone and may be regarded as an act of reverence. The second group are deviant burials of infants, juveniles, and females that were thrown into the depositional shafts aforementioned. Most of the skeletons miss body parts and some bear multiple perimortal traumata. The evidence indicate the impious treatment of the individuals and that at least some were killed. Possibly these acts had ritual meanings. A third group, consisting of deliberate depositions of human skulls, and some isolated human remains complement the archaeological evidence for the various social practices related to the sanctuary of Pömmelte-Zackmünde.
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The enclosure’s importance as a place to reinforce social order is demonstrated by the very diverse set of human skeletal remains. Of particular interest are two opposing groups of inhumation. The first group are ‘regular’ graves of adult men that respect the monument’s circular layout. The formal burial within the enclosure was probably something not granted to everyone and may be regarded as an act of reverence. The second group are deviant burials of infants, juveniles, and females that were thrown into the depositional shafts aforementioned. Most of the skeletons miss body parts and some bear multiple perimortal traumata. The evidence indicate the impious treatment of the individuals and that at least some were killed. Possibly these acts had ritual meanings. A third group, consisting of deliberate depositions of human skulls, and some isolated human remains complement the archaeological evidence for the various social practices related to the sanctuary of Pömmelte-Zackmünde.
The enclosure’s importance as a place to reinforce social order is demonstrated by the very diverse set of human skeletal remains. Of particular interest are two opposing groups of inhumation. The first group are ‘regular’ graves of adult men that respect the monument’s circular layout. The formal burial within the enclosure was probably something not granted to everyone and may be regarded as an act of reverence. The second group are deviant burials of infants, juveniles, and females that were thrown into the depositional shafts aforementioned. Most of the skeletons miss body parts and some bear multiple perimortal traumata. The evidence indicate the impious treatment of the individuals and that at least some were killed. Possibly these acts had ritual meanings. A third group, consisting of deliberate depositions of human skulls, and some isolated human remains complement the archaeological evidence for the various social practices related to the sanctuary of Pömmelte-Zackmünde.