Die Burgwälle von Lenzen-Neuehaus und Lenzersilge

Im Rahmen des DFG-Projekts “Slawen an der Unteren Mittelelbe” wurden außer dem Burghügel an der Löcknitz [MAB 9] 2005-2008 zwei weitere Burganlagen mit mächtigen Wällen und Blockbauten untersucht, die Aufschluß zum slawischen und frühdeutschen Befestigungswesen, zur frühmittelalterlichen bis hochmittelalterlichen Herrschaftsgeschichte und zur Keramik gaben, die erst nach 1150 westliche Einflüsse zeigt. Die runde Anlage von Lenzersilge wurde nach C14-Daten nur von den 820er bis 850er Jahren genutzt, so daß sie einen wichtigen Datierungsfixpunkt bildet. Der imposante ovale Burgwall von Lenzen-Neuehaus war dreiphasig mit einem großen Burgwall vom Typ Feldberg von 800-850, einem kleinen mittelslawischen Rundwall von 870-930, also etwa bis zur Schlacht von Lenzen 929, sowie einer frühdeutschen Burg mit Turmhügel und Pfostenbau vom späteren 12. Jh. bis um 1250. Die frühesten Anlagen hängen mit den fränkischen Sachsenkriegen zusammen. Ab den 940er Jahren entstand am Lenzener Burgberg eine Nachfolgerburg, während Neuehaus nach dem Wendenkreuzzug von 1147 reaktiviert wurde. Funde erweisen, daß es sich um dauerhaft genutzte Herrschaftssitze handelte.

Apart from the castle hill on the Löcknitz river [MAB 9] another two ringforts with large earthworks and log houses were investigated in the context of the DFG project “Slavs on the lower Middle Elbe” in 2005-2008. They provided insights into Slavic and Early German fortifications, Early to High Medieval political history, and the pottery which displayed westerly influences only after A.D. 1150. The circular fort at Lenzersilge was only used from the 820s to 850s according to radiocarbon dating so that it forms an important chronological anchor. The impressive oval ringfort at Lenzen-Neuehaus had three phases, starting with a large ringfort of type Feldberg from A.D. 800-850, followed by a small Middle Slavic circular fort of A.D. 870-930, i. e. to around the Battle of Lenzen in A.D. 929, and finally an Early German motte-and-bailey castle with a post building from the later 12th century until ca. A.D. 1250. The earliest complexes were built during the Frankish Saxon Wars. From the 940s onwards, a successor castle was constructed on Lenzener Burgberg, while Neuehaus was only reactivated after the Wendish Crusade of A.D. 1147. Finds attest that these strongholds were permanently occupied residences, no refuges. Apart from the castle hill on the Löcknitz river [MAB 9] another two ringforts with large earthworks and log houses were investigated in the context of the DFG project “Slavs on the lower Middle Elbe” in 2005-2008. They provided insights into Slavic and Early German fortifications, Early to High Medieval political history, and the pottery which displayed westerly influences only after A.D. 1150. The circular fort at Lenzersilge was only used from the 820s to 850s according to radiocarbon dating so that it forms an important chronological anchor. The impressive oval ringfort at Lenzen-Neuehaus had three phases, starting with a large ringfort of type Feldberg from A.D. 800-850, followed by a small Middle Slavic circular fort of A.D. 870-930, i. e. to around the Battle of Lenzen in A.D. 929, and finally an Early German motte-and-bailey castle with a post building from the later 12th century until ca. A.D. 1250. The earliest complexes were built during the Frankish Saxon Wars. From the 940s onwards, a successor castle was constructed on Lenzener Burgberg, while Neuehaus was only reactivated after the Wendish Crusade of A.D. 1147. Finds attest that these strongholds were permanently occupied residences, no refuges.