Altenburg (Niedenstein)
Altenburg near Niedenstein
The Altenburg, also called Green plate, is a prehistoric castle on the mountain located near Niedenstein Altenburg in the nature park forest hawk in the Schwalm -Eder -Kreis, North Hesse ( Germany ).
Geographical location
The remains of the hilltop castle located on the mountain Altenburg ( 450.7 m above sea level. NN ) connected between Niedenstein ( Schwalm -Eder -Kreis) rises in the west to the southeast and Bad Emstal - sand ( district of Kassel ). The summit region of forested mountain is an almost rectangular basalt plateau of approximately 500 m long and 300 m wide.
Through the valley west of the Altenburg location whose inflow Wiehoff runs the Eder inflow Ems, east. On the non-protected by natural cliffs mountain slopes in the north- west and north- east, the castle was surrounded by a stone ring wall, the remains of which are partly still visible.
History
The colonization of the plant began in the 2nd millennium BC and finally ended by 25 AD The assumption that there could be at the Altenburg to the mentioned in Tacitus chat matic capital Mattium, was refuted by research of the mid-20th century. Why the settlement was abandoned, is no longer unique to clarify. There is speculation that by withdrawing Suevi could have looted and destroyed the castle.
Excavations
During excavations that took place 1905-1913, the castle has been extensively studied and evaluated scientifically. Were bared up over bites, main wall, gates, passages, and clay deposits. The stone walls were originally reinforced by wooden structures. The total length of the ramparts was about 3000 meters; the core area of the fortified hilltop settlement was 15 hectares, the total area of about 70 hectares. Several circular depressions were found to be holzverschalte pits and cisterns. A pit was used as a mash pit pottery.
From the Neolithic period are the Michel Berger culture attributable stone axes, knife blades and ceramic shards. In the mash pit was found buckets, tubs, gable trim, door and dishes, inter alia, the Altenburg was still littered with shards of pottery and also with hearths and postholes, suggesting a populous settlement. Among the finds are also objects of domestic use of bronze, such as belt hooks, needles, a horse furniture, crockery and a door made of oak.
The finds are kept in the Hessian State Museum in Kassel and described at the community center Niedenstein, where there is also a model of the historic site. On the basis of panels that were mounted in a shelter at the Altenburg, you can learn about the history and the excavations of the old castle.