Since May 2024, the State Office for Monument Conservation and Archaeology (LDA) of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, has been conducting archaeological excavations at the Hermes Fulfilment GmbH distribution center site in Haldensleben. This project is being carried out in collaboration with Hermes Fulfilment, and its findings are offering valuable insights into the region’s past, unearthing remains of settlements dating from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages.
Located in an area that had already been the subject of significant research in 2010 and 2011 following the discovery of a medieval fortress, the site has now revealed an extension of the settlement. The current excavations cover an area of sand and gravel terraces stretching toward the Ohre River valley.
This terrain, strategically located by the river, proves ideal for human activity and community establishment. Archaeological findings indicate that the site was occupied from very early times, specifically during the Bronze Age, approximately between 2200 and 750 BCE.
Among the most significant discoveries from this period are various objects, such as ceramic fragments and animal bones, which help to understand the dietary habits and consumption practices of the time. A well containing an intact vessel, which appears to have fallen in accidentally, was also uncovered.
However, one of the most remarkable finds from this period is a ring-headed needle belonging to the Aunjetitz culture, a bronze object that reflects the metallurgical skill possessed by these early inhabitants.
The Iron Age, dating approximately from 750 BCE to the beginning of the Christian era, also left its mark in this area. During this time, activity in the area appears to have been intense, and archaeologists have unearthed various remnants, including a lime kiln, which stands out for its significance as it evidences advanced material production practices, and possibly construction.
The terrace along the Ohre River remained a key occupation site during the early and high medieval periods, especially in the 9th and 10th centuries, even before the construction of the fortress discovered in the 2010-2011 excavations, which dates to the second half of the 11th century. Excavations have uncovered twelve underground buildings and numerous posts of above-ground structures. This evidence points to an active and organized community that was already using the land well before the fortress was built.
By the 11th and 12th centuries, the community expanded southward, crossing a large ditch that was probably excavated to drain groundwater. The settlement and fortress appear to have been closely connected, as the population likely grew around this powerful defensive structure. During this expansion, numerous buildings were constructed, some with unique and substantial characteristics.
One of the most striking discoveries is a large underground structure where remnants of looms and numerous weaving-related items were found, such as loom weights and spindle whorls. This building appears to have been a textile production center, a characteristic feature of settlements around lordly fortresses in this era.
Among the above-ground buildings, some stand out for having advanced heating systems. Archaeologists found remains of elaborate stone ovens that, thanks to their design, allowed homes to be heated without producing smoke. One structure even had a stone cellar, a distinctive feature suggesting it might have been used for storage or as a secure living space.
The excavations from 2010 and 2011, as well as written records, mention “Niendorp”, the medieval name of this region, documented for the first time in the early 11th century. The fortress, built between 1076 and 1078, was likely erected by Countess Gertrud of Haldensleben in response to the tensions of the Saxon uprising against the Salian monarchy, in which the countess played a key role. In 1167, the fortress passed to Gertrud’s grandson, Henry the Lion, and was destroyed by Archbishop Wichmann of Seeburg.
After the destruction of the fortress, the archbishop established a fortified town that included an area of approximately 35 hectares, encompassing both the fortress and the adjacent settlement. Over time, however, the settlement’s core shifted southeast, and this area began to decline gradually, eventually being abandoned between the 13th and 14th centuries. The current discoveries, however, demonstrate that even after the initial devastation, this area continued to be used until the decline of the town founded by Archbishop Wichmann.
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