History of Goslar

= History =

Goslar, is one of the few world heritage sites in Germany. Its mediaeval character makes it a rewarding object of living history.

Neolithic/Megalithic Settlements in and around the Harz

The earliest archeological finds near Goslar date back to 100,000-50,000 B.C.. In Salzgitter-Lebenstedt, stone tools thought to stem from Mousterian Culture have been discovered.

By 4,500 B.C. the region was probably settled by farmers orgininating from the Danube region. One of their settlements was found in 1956 in Eitzum near Wolfenbüttel.

The most densely populated area during this period was probably the area between the Harz, Thuringian forest and the river Elbe. Near Nebra, some 93 miles South-East from Goslar across the Harz Highlands, archeologists have found the famous skydisk originating probably in the Carpathian Mountains. This hints at the fact that the Harz Highlands, too, and in particular the region around Goslar was inhabited by people belonging to the Unetice culture during this time. In addition in the vicinity of the projected site of discovery, near Goseck, a neolithic structure, the so called Goseck circle was unearthed yielding some insight into the culture and habits of the people that probably were also living at the foot of the Harz Highlands during this period. A further neolithic structure that is not that well preserved was found in Quenstedt near Aschersleben.

Several objects of high quality dating back to the megaltihic period were also found near Bernburg.

Roman and Saxon Times

Early Goslar

Mediaeval City

Decline

Site of the 1642 Goslar Accord between Emperor Ferdinand III and the Dukes of Brunswick (Braunschweig), in which their territories became neutral in exchange for concession of the "große Stift" of Hildesheim.

18th century

19th century

Twentieth century

ee also

http://www.harzgeschichte.harz-urlaub.de/inhalt/steinzeit.htm

Notes