Ipf (mountain)

The Ipf seen from the west

The lpf is a 668 m high mountain in the eastern Swabian Alb witnesses at Bopfingen in Ostalb (Baden- Württemberg).

The Ipf lies directly north of Bopfingen and overlooks the city by 210 meters. Its slopes are deforested except for parts of the north side and covered by a heathland. The distinctive conical shape of the mountain lifts him clear out of the area.

On the summit plateau are powerful prehistoric fortifications that have already been created in the Late Bronze Age in the 12th century BC.

Geology

The Ipf consists mainly of limestones and marls of the upper South German Jura ( Jurassic ). The layer sequence of the Jurassic is complete. The gently rising slopes to Ipf and the foot of the mountain are from sandstones, oolitic limestones and shales of the higher mean Süddeutsche Jura ( Jura Brown ) constructed the so-called iron sandstone and Ornatenton et al. In the wider area of the mountain known as the Opalinus Clay of the lowest Brown Jura ( Jura Brown α, Aalenian ) is pending.

The difference in the weathering and erosion susceptibility between the Brown Jura ( relatively susceptible, especially the Opalinus Clay ) and the Jurassic layers ( less vulnerable ) is an important cause for the development of the IPFs as witnesses mountain. Characteristic here is the reinforcement of vulnerable Brown Jurassic strata of the carbonate rocks of the Jurassic.

Wallanlagen

The separated from the escarpment detached witnesses mountain was inhabited since the Neolithic period. During the Urnfield the first fortifications probably originated on the Ipf. However, the ramparts still so impressively preserved today probably originated mostly only during the late Hallstatt period. Maybe the mountain served as a Celtic princely seat or national center. Approximately 1.5 km north-west lies the Court Master stall a grave mound field this time position, which can be well regarded as the burial place of the socially higher-ranking Ipfbewohner. A BC to the 6th century BC Greek shard dated fits well into the lost image of such alleged royal residences and occupies the relatively high standard of living on the mountain peak. Between 2000 and 2003 more Greek imported goods came to light, which suggests trade relations in this space during excavations near the hamlet of Easter wood. Here also a grave mound with its surrounding ring ditch was reconstructed.

In the late La Tène period, the fortifications were again expanded. Contrary to earlier assumptions, they protected no oppidum. Evidence of a continuous Roman settlement have not yet been found so far, however, prove some small finds that the Ipf was regularly visited in the first centuries AD. A recent reactivation of the fortifications may have occurred during the Hungarian invasions of the 10th century. Nearby is on the pond mountain in a large Kartäusertal Hungary protective castle with about 10 acres of inner surface that was created by the expansion of an earlier rampart.

The Wall staggered system of Ipf actually strongly reminiscent of hungary temporal fastening systems, and the slope trench around the summit plateau is a characteristic feature of such protection castles. Perhaps the visible today powerful moats are the result of last hungary temporal planned expansion of its prehistoric fortifications, as already suspected of amateur researchers Wilhelm Schneider (1989, The southwest Germany Hungary ramparts and their builders ). However, the archaeological excavations of recent talk previously clearly against this assumption. However, just hungary Age hill systems offer very little archaeological material. Already the archaeologist Wolfgang Kimmig assumed that " can probably recognize ' also traces of early medieval fortifications ' use 70 percent of our encountered in Central Europe, prehistoric ". The good state of preservation of the walled area on Ipf is a further indication of the early medieval " revision " of the Celtic fortifications.

The fastening system

The oval summit plateau (diameter 180 m ) was formerly circumscribed by a rim wall, which was about a 5 m wide, holzversteifte wall. Approximately 15 m below protects a shallow slope ditch the plateau, the subsequent Wall turns into the steep hillside. Another moat in front as an intermediate wall - On the flat eastern side of the main wall is a wall - about 150 m long. About 60 m east runs a third Wallzug in which also puts a holzversteifte stone wall. 50 to 60 m below the summit plateau eventually runs a fourth wall to the south, east and north side protected by the steep slopes in the west plant. To the north runs this, here accompanied by a moat Wall to foothills and protected former three well shafts, which have been preserved as a large funnel pits. The old castle entrance led from the southeast to the plateau. Today is the old way the most convenient opportunity for advancement and also grants a good insight into the Wall grave system.