Dieler Schanze und Festung Leerort

Die Festung Leerort und die Dieler Schanze waren wichtige frühneuzeitliche Festungswerke der Grafschaft Ostfriesland und zeugen von den politisch-gesellschaftlichen Machtverhältnissen im Land. Sie spiegeln aber auch die Konflikte wider, die die junge Grafschaft mit Parteien außerhalb führte. Während der geschichtlich-historische Kontext beider Festungen bereits mehrfach dargelegt wurde, fanden archäologische Ausgrabungen erst in jüngerer Zeit statt. Im Rahmen des INTERREG IVa-geförderten Projektes „Grenzland Festungsland“ hat die Ostfriesische Landschaft 2010-2013 beide Befestigungsanlagen untersucht. Das Studium der historischen Quellen, flächige geophysikalische Prospektionen, eine LiDAR-Befliegung, gezielte minimalinvasive Ausgrabungen und die Fundauswertung lassen die Festungen in neuem Licht erscheinen. Sie geben Aufschluß über das Festungswesen, Belagerungstechniken, soziale Hierarchien in den stationierten Truppen und über das Schleifen der Anlagen nach der Aufgabe als militärische Befestigung. Im vorliegenden Band werden die einzelnen Aspekte beleuchtet sowie die Befunde und reichen Funde für weitere Forschungen zugänglich gemacht.

The fortress of Leerort and the Dieler Schanze were important Early Modern fortifications in the county of East Frisia and bear witness to the political and social balance of power in the region. However, they also reflect the conflicts that the young county had with outside parties. While the historical context of both fortresses has already been outlined several times, archaeological excavations have only recently taken place. As part of the INTERREG IVa-funded project “Grenzland Festungsland”, the “Ostfriesische Landschaft” association of municipalities investigated both fortifications in 2010-13. The study of historical sources, extensive geophysical prospection, a LiDAR survey, targeted minimally invasive excavations, and the evaluation of finds have shed new light on the fortifications. They provide information about the fortress system, siege techniques, social hierarchies within the stationed troops and about the razing of the fortifications to the ground after their abandonment as military strongholds. This volume sheds light on these individual aspects and makes the findings and rich artefacts available for further research. The fortress of Leerort and the Dieler Schanze were important Early Modern fortifications in the county of East Frisia and bear witness to the political and social balance of power in the region. However, they also reflect the conflicts that the young county had with outside parties. While the historical context of both fortresses has already been outlined several times, archaeological excavations have only recently taken place. As part of the INTERREG IVa-funded project “Grenzland Festungsland”, the “Ostfriesische Landschaft” association of municipalities investigated both fortifications in 2010-13. The study of historical sources, extensive geophysical prospection, a LiDAR survey, targeted minimally invasive excavations, and the evaluation of finds have shed new light on the fortifications. They provide information about the fortress system, siege techniques, social hierarchies within the stationed troops and about the razing of the fortifications to the ground after their abandonment as military strongholds. This volume sheds light on these individual aspects and makes the findings and rich artefacts available for further research.