Wartberg culture

Infobox Archaeological culture|name=Wartberg culture
Period=Later Neolithic
abs=3,600 - 2,800 BC
rel=post Michelsberg, pre Single Grave
geotext= Germany: Northern and Central Hesse, Westphalia, South Lower Saxony, West Thuringia
typ= collared bottles, strap-handled cups
sit= hilltop settlements, gallery graves, enclosures

The Wartberg culture ( _de. Wartbergkultur), sometimes: Wartberg group ("Wartberggruppe") or Collared bottle culture ("Kragenflaschenkultur") is a prehistoric culture of the later Central European Neolithic. It is named after its type site, the Wartberg, a hill (306m asl) near Niedenstein-Kirchberg in northern Hesse, Germany.

Distribution

The Wartberg culture is currently known to have a distribution in northern Hesse, southern Lower Saxony and western Thuringia; a southern extent as far as the Rhein-Main Region is possible, but not definitely proven at this point. [Raetzel-Fabian 1990, 112, 121]

Dates

The term Wartberg culture describes a group of sites with similar characteristic finds from circa 3600-2800 BC. The Wartberg culture appears to be a regional development derived from Michelsberg and Baalberge culture antecedents. It is contemporary, and in contact, with Bernburg culture and Funnel Beaker (TRB). The Corded Ware and Single Grave cultures succeed it. [Raetzel-Fabian 2002]

ites

ettlements

Its best known sites are Wartberg, near Kirchberg, [Schrickel 1969] Hasenberg, a hill near Lohne, [Schwellnuß 1971; 1979: 21-24] as well as Güntersberg [Schwellnuß 1970; 1979, 16-20] and Bürgel, [Schwellnuß 1979: 24-28] hills near Gudensberg (all of the above are located on basalt outcrops in the fertile Fritzlar basin), and from the Calden earthwork enclosure. [Raetzel Fabian 2000(b)] Nearly all settlements identified so far are in hilltop locations: an enclosed site at Wittelsberg near Amöneburg is an exception. Virtually all the known settlements appear to have come into existence several hundred years after the development of Wartberg pottery (see below); early Wartberg settlement activity remains mostly unknown as yet. [Raetzel-Fabian 2000, 122-3, 130]

Finds from the Wartberg and its sister sites included fragmented bones, mainly of cattle, pig, sheep/goat and deer, but also of other wild animals, like bear or beaver; human bone fragments also occur in some of the settlements. [Pinder 1878, 10-11; Schwellnuß 1970; 1971; 1979] Originally, the Wartberg (first excavated in the later 19th century) was interpreted as a cult place, [Pinder 1878, 11] but the remains of coarse handmade pottery and of mud wall cladding do suggest settlement activity. [e.g. Schrickel 1969; Schwellnuß 1979]

Megalithic tombs

Wartberg material is also found in a number of gallery graves (a type of megalithic tomb). Their connection with the Wartberg settlements was only recognised in the 1960s and 1970s, thus the tombs are sometimes treated separately as the Hessian-Westphalian stone cist group ("Hessisch-Westfälische Steinkistengruppe"). [Schrickel 1976]

These include the tombs at Züschen near Fritzlar, at Lohra, at Naumburg-Altendorf, at Hadamar-Niederzeuzheim (now rebuilt in a park at Hachenburg), at Beselich-Niedertiefenbach, at Warburg, Rimbeck and at Grossenrode, as well as two tombs near the Calden enclosure. [Jockenhövel 1990, 162-166; Raetzel-Fabian 2000, 112-129] A tomb at Muschenheim near Münzenberg may also belong to the same type, [M. Menke, "Neue Ausgrabungen in der Magalithanlage 'Heilige Steine' bei Muschenheim (Lkr. Gießen): Vorbericht über die Ausgrabungskampagnen 1989 bis 1992" in: "Germania" 71/2, 1993, p. 279-314] as may a further one at Bad Vilbel near Frankfurt am Main which was destroyed after 1945. [K. Fritz: Nachlese zum Vortrag "Das Verschollene Hünengrab vom Heilsberg". in: "Heilsberger Nachrichten, Mitteilungsblatt des Bürgervereins Heilsberg e.v. (Bad Vilbel)", 48/28, 1998, p. 3-4.] The best known of these tombs are those of Züschen, Lohra, Niederzeuzzheim and Altendorf. They normally contained the inhumed remains of multiple individuals (the Altendorf tomb contained at least 250 people) of all ages and both sexes. Lohra is an exception insofar as there the dead were cremated. Gravegoods are scarce but include pottery (collared bottles), stone tools and animal bones, especially the jawbones of foxes, which may have played a totemic role. The Züschen tomb is also remarkable for the presence of rock art. [Raetzel-Fabian 2000, 123-129] Some of the tombs can be directly associated with nearby hilltop sites or settlements, [Schwellnuß 1979, 57-60] that is, the Züschen tomb with the Hasenberg and the Calden tombs with the earthwork. According to the German archaeologist Waltraud Schrickel, the association with gallery graves suggests a west European influence, perhaps from the Paris basin in France, where very similar tombs occur. [Schrickel 1966] The Wartberg tombs appear to start developing around 3400 BC, earlier than most of the known settlements. [Raetzel-Fabian 2000, 122]

tanding stones

A loose distribution of standing stones occurs in northern Hesse and west Thuringia. Although their dates are unknown, their geographic spread appears to coincide with that of Wartberg material, perhaps suggesting a connection. [Jockenhövel 1990, 170-173; Raetzel-Fabian 2000, 136-148]

Enclosures

The Calden earthwork, a large enclosure northwest of modern Kassel, was built around 3700 BC. It is an irregular enclosure of two ditches and a palisade, encompassing an area of 14 hectares. The enclosure has five openings, perhaps comparable to British Causewayed enclosures. Although it can with some certainty be seen as derived from the Michelsberg tradition, material associated with its early phases suggests a close connectionn with early Wartberg. It appears to have been a tradition for several centuries to bury animal bones (food refuse?) and broken pots in pits dug into the partially filled-in earthwork ditches. The ditches also contain the remains of many human inhumations. This activity continued until circa 2000 BC and was particularly intensive during the Wartberg period. Two nearby graves postdate the earthwork by several centuries, but coincide with that activity. While the original function of the earthwork is not necessarily explained by these finds, it appears likely that at least during later phases of its use it had a ritual significance, perhaps connected with a cult of the dead. [ Raetzel-Fabian 2000(b)] In contrast, the enclosure around the settlement at Wittelsberg appears to be simply protective/defensive in nature. [Fielder 1991]

Finds

Pottery

Wartberg pottery is handmade and mostly very coarse. Typical shapes in the mid-4^th millennium include saucepans with inturned rim and deep incisions, cups with strap handles, collared bottles ("Kragenflaschen"). The presence of pottery with deeply incised patterns as well as of clay drums suggest connections with the Funnel Beaker culture (TRB) of Central Germany. In the later Wartberg, strap-handled cups, funnel beakers, varied bowls, large pots with holes below the rim and collared bottles occur. The frequent presence of collared bottles, not least in the tombs, is of special interest. The bottles are made with somewhat more care than other vessels; their very specific shape suggests a special function, often suggested to be connected with the storage of special material, like vegetable oil or sulphur, perhaps for healing purposes. [For whole pottery section: Raetzel Fabian 2000, 122, 131]

Stone and bone tools

Slate axes are very common, slate blades also occur. The Wartberg culture produced fine stone arrowheads with well defined tangs and "wings".A variety of bone tools, mainly points, has been found both in tombs and settlements. [Raetzel-Fabian, 2000, 132]

Economy

Little can be said about the economy of the Wartberg group. The location of sites and certain finds suggest a broadly sedentary society susbsisting from agriculture and animal husbandry, but hunting may play a considerable economic role. The Wartberg area appears to be in general trade contact with its neighbouring regions.

ocial aspects

The presence of earthworks and of collective tombs indicates different levels of collective effort, thus implying a considerable degree of social organisation. [Raetzel-Fabian 2000, 113]

Museums

Wartberg material is on display at the following museums:
* Hessian State Museum ("Hessisches Landesmuseum"), Kassel
* Heimatmuseum Fritzlar

Bibliography

* Joseph Bergmann: "Vor- und Frühgeschichtliche Sammlung im Heimatmuseum Fritzlar". Ed. v. Hessischer Museumsverband Kassel. Thiele und Schwarz, Kassel 1975, S. 24-25.
* Albrecht Jockenhövel: Die Jungsteinzeit. in: Fritz-Rudolf Hermann & Albrecht Jockenhövel (eds.): "Die Vorgeschichte Hessens", Theiss, Stuttgart 1990, p. 121-194.
*Lutz Fiedler: Eine befestigte Siedlung der Jungsteinzeit bei Wittelsberg, Kreis Marburg-Biedenkopf. Zur Archäologie des 4. Und 3. Jahrtausends vor Christus; "Denkmalpflege in Hessen" 2/1991; 23-27.
*Eduard Pinder: "Bericht über die heidnischen Alterthümer der ehemals kurhessischen Provinzen Fulda, Oberhessen, Niederhessen; Herrschaft Schmalkalden und Grafschaft Schaumburg, welche sich in den gegenwärtig vereinigten Sammlungen des Museums Fridericianum zu Cassel und des Vereins für hessische Geschichte und Landeskunde befinden". Zeitschrift des Vereins für hessische Geschichte und Landeskunde, suppl. 6; Cassel (Kassel) 1878.
* Dirk Raetzel-Fabian: "Die ersten Bauernkulturen. Jungsteinzeit in Nordhessen". Vor- u. Frühgeschichte im Hessischen Landesmuseum in Kassel. Vol 2. Kassel 2000, p. 105-138. ISBN 3931787117
* Dirk Raetzel-Fabian: "Calden. Erdwerk and Bestattungsplätze des Jungneolithikums." Bonn 2000(b). ISBN 3774930228
* Dirk Raetzel-Fabian: Absolute Chronology and Cultural Development of the Wartberg Culture in Germany, www.jungsteinsite.de, 2002 [http://www.jungsteinsite.uni-kiel.de/pdf/2002_2_fabian.pdf Pdf]
* Waltraut Schrickel: "Westeuropäische Elemente im neolithischen Grabbau Mitteldeutschlands und Die Galeriegräber Westdeutschlands und ihre Inventare". Beiträge zur Ur- und Frügeschichtlichen Archäologie des Mittelmeer-Kulturraumes 4; Bonn 1966.
* Waldtraut Schrickel: "Die Funde vom Wartberg in Hessen." Kasseler Beiträge zur Vor- und Frühgeschichte. Vol 1. Elvert, Marburg 1969.
* Waltraud Schrickel, 1976: Die Galeriegrab-Kultur Westdeutschlands; Ensteheung, Gliederung und Beziehung zu benachbarten Kulturen. In: Fundamenta A3, "Die Anfänge des Neolithikums vom Orient bis Nordeuropa", Vb; Köln & Wien: Böhlau, 188-239.
* Winrich Schwellnuß: "Wartberg-Gruppe und hessische Megalithik; ein Beitrag zum späten Neolithikum des Hessischen Berglandes", Materialien zur Vor- und Frühgeschichte von Hessen, Vol. 4, Wiesbaden 1979.
* Winrich Schwellnuß: "Nachuntersuchungen auf dem Guntersberg bei Gudensberg Kr. Fritzlar-Homberg." in: "Fundberichte aus Hessen." Bd 9/10. Habelt, Bonn 1970, p. 102-104. ISSN|0071-9889
* Winrich Schwellnuß: "Untersuchung einer spätneolithischen Höhensiedlung auf dem Hasenberg bei Lohne, Kr. Fritzlar-Homberg." "Fundberichte aus Hessen." Vol 11. Habelt, Bonn 1971, p. 118-121. ISSN|0071-9889

ee also

*Züschen (megalithic tomb)
*Lohra (megalithic tomb)
*Altendorf (megalithic tomb)
*Niedertiefenbach (megalithic tomb)

External links

* [http://www.noeding.info/Lormaison/Steink01.htm Online article on Wartberg tombs and French connections (in German)]

References

ource of translation