Hinkelstein culture

The menhir group ( also Hinkelstein culture) is an archaeological regional group of the Neolithic in south-west Germany. It lies at the junction of the Linear Pottery Culture and Cultures of the Middle Neolithic and dated about 5000-4800 BC

History of Research

The term Hinkelstein group goes back to the doctor Worms and local historian Karl Koehl, of the expression menhir type proposed in 1898. This name is reminiscent of 1866 when Roden a field to plant a vineyard in Monsheim (Kreis Alzey- Worms) discovered burial ground, which mined more than 50 flat grave to light. There originally was a about two meters high menhir, as mentioned in the Rhine-Hessian vernacular " menhir " and now preserved in the castle of Monsheim. These findings were examined by the Mainz prehistorians Louis Lindenschmit and described in 1868. Hinkel is the Hessian term for chicken; Menhir is the word resulting from ignorance or joke for Hünenstein, as well as megalithic tombs popularly known occasionally to " chicken graves " mutant. A short time later it was K. Koehl, who dealt with associated residential developments. The menhir Group was formed from the late Linear Pottery Culture. Around the year 1975, the archaeologist Walter Meier - Arendt examined the archaeological material and processed it monographically to in that year. He shared the menhir group into three phases.

Chronology

Chronologically can the menhir group dated to the transition from the early to Middle Neolithic in Central Europe. It connects to the younger Linear Pottery. In addition, a similarity of shape and can not be mistaken motive spectrum by influences from the Stroked Pottery. In addition to these archaeological finds, the non-existence is of hilltop settlements an indication to seek their start at this time. The same phenomenon is also found in the Großgart Acher culture and Linear Pottery. Only with the older culture Rössen use these. Especially in West Germany is the menhir group with the late Linear Pottery Bohemian and early Stroked Pottery ( I and II ) to provide time in a same context. With the outgoing Hinkelstein group the Großgart Acher Group was formed. Both existed for some time yet side by side.

Dissemination

The distribution area is located in Central Europe. Like many other groups and cultures of the Middle Neolithic menhir is the group primarily found near rivers. The areas of the upper and middle Rhine ( Rhein- Main region and Rheinhessen ) experienced their main settlement. In the area west of Lake Constance, the Rhine and Main, there are more settlements. In addition, archaeologists uncovered free at the mouth of the River Main and the Neckar basin references of Hinkelstein group. While the existence of this cultural group, it also led to occasional variations beyond these areas. An associated archaeological delivered in this context, a finding in Cologne. What is striking is the almost congruent spread on the fields of the previous culture of the Linear Pottery Culture.

Settlement characteristics

Archaeologists were able to assign 77 references of the menhir group. Were discovered while reading finds and singular pits. However, statements about the size of the settlements and the appearance of the house forms could not be made. In the mine finds it was namely mostly just to salvage inventory. The house forms can only the use of clay are given, but this was not unusual for this time. The archaeologist W. Meier - Arendt undertook in 1975 the trial because of a computational method, in conjunction with the existing cemeteries, an approximate number to identify the people living in settlements. He came to the conclusion that about 60 people had to have lived in a village.

Material Culture

The vessel shapes are similar to the still largely Bandkeramik inventory, decorating Kümpfe is dominated by curly triangle pattern. The tombs are characterized by rich decoration of native freshwater mussels, locally occurring fossil shells and deer grandeln while Spondylus Jewelry almost completely disappears.

Funeral rite

The graves that were found in 1866, were bought and destroyed by their discovery. The archaeologists were able to initially support only there on the statement, at the time, grave end construction workers. Further excavations illuminated by little, however, the grave situation. The dead were stored stretched and found in a southeast-northwest orientation. The view of the buried turned to the northeast. Many of the graves were so-called flat graves. The dead were buried and thus buried in a shallow depth of 70-90 cm. The deceased rich grave goods were usually given. In addition to ceramic vessels, archaeologists found a variety of decorative elements. This consisted of shells, boar and deer teeth, stone and horn. Many of the graves were located in areas of the following Großgart Acher culture and the Alsatian Linear Pottery. In the necropolis of Trebur example, the menhir group occurs together with the Großgart Acher culture.