Winnefeld

Winnefeld is a deserted village in the district of Northeim, in Lower Saxony. From the remote settlement in the unincorporated area of the Solling lying deserted village still bear witness to the exposed foundations of the church of the former place.

Location

The district of the former place Winnefeld is right on the main road 241 west of the town Amelith with the hunting lodge and the Stadtwüstung Nienover and east of the village Lauenfoerde. The deserted village located in the same state forest Winnefeld at the foot of Kirchberg and about three kilometers northeast of the deserted village Schmeessen. In contrast to the general geology of the Solling is at the spatial location Winnefeld a Lössinsel. The Dorfwüstung is accessible from the main road from freely accessible for tourist use. The 1603 by cartographer John crab -made map of the Solling shows at the Kirchberg, a ruined church and designate the body as a desert Winnefeld.

History

The results indicated that soil science has been used already in the 8th century as forest grazing the square of the village settlement Winnefeld. In the period 1150-1250 large clearings were carried out by the Count of Dassel in the area of ​​today's deserted. In this context, the naming is mentioned. The name of the place Winnefeld can therefore possibly be translated as new-found box. In the course of clearing the village was built about the same time the city Nienover around 1200. The dating is based on the uncovered during excavations fragments of ceramic vessels dating from around 1220. It is believed that it Nienover supplied with food. It reached a length of 1.7 kilometers expansion at an estimated speed of 25 to 40 yards. This work was part of a targeted country's development. According to prior research, the development of settlements reached its peak in the 13th century. Winnefeld was not isolated in the highlands of the Solling at this time. In its surroundings there were a number of other settlements that were later also desolate.

As the archaeological investigations revealed the Magdalene flood were destroyed by the waters of the heron creek in 1342 residential buildings and bridges of the village in the course. In addition, the agriculturally useful land that formed the livelihood of the villagers were affected. The heavy precipitation has probably led to the libertine traps the village. Added to this was the emergence of the new settlement Lauenfoerde in the following decades.

The masonry of the church was demolished in the aftermath of the population of the surrounding villages, used part of it for soil stabilization during construction of the road.

To the abandoned village site is entwined as early as the 16th century legends, they were differentiated from the multitude of desolate places in the Solling. Early on, there were investigations of the soil, from the 18th and 19th century medieval household items were recovered. According to records from the 19th century at the time were 23 wells still open, which were then filled up to two wells sites. Even the cemetery to have been at that time by a stone gate still recognizable.

Excavations

After the remains of the deserted village lay under a mound of long, was started in 2002 under the direction of Hans -Georg Stephan from the Department of Prehistory and Early History of the University of Göttingen with excavations. After seven annual excavation campaigns excavation series in 2008 was completed. After significant findings using the methods of classical archeology had been won, the floods of the 14th century was from 2006 with the methodology of Optically stimulated luminescence are determined.

Excavations from 110 to 170 skeletons are evidence of the existence of a cemetery, which was located around the church. The total number of burials is estimated at 1,000 to 2,000, of which only the bone material has been preserved calcareous remains of walls of the church in the area. In addition, during the excavation of two village wells have been uncovered.

Church

The archaeologically investigated foundations suggest a Romanesque church that has arisen in the period around 1200 in two phases. The foundation walls have a length of 30 and a width of 9.7 meters. Due to the unusual dimensions can be assumed that the settlement was relatively large. The Church is the largest known Wüstungskirche from the Romanesque period in Lower Saxony. The built of rubble stone structure consisted of a zweijochigem nave to the tower on the west side and a rectangular choir on the east side. It is believed that the church was equipped inside with a vault. The height of the tower is said to have amounted to 15 to 20 meters.

About the completely restored foundations of the Church Culture - Nature Historic Three countries covenant Weser Uplands has been made a partial reconstruction of the building from 2006 on the initiative of the Association. It is like the two wells freely accessible. The club chairman Jürgen Koch has been awarded in 2013 for his commitment to the scientific exploration of medieval cultural landscape in the Weser mountain country, including in the deserted village Winnefeld, with the Lower Saxony Order of Merit.