Hilltop settlement on the Pfaffenstein

The location of the mountain

At 434.6 m above sea level, the Pfaffenstein is one of the highest table mountains in Saxon Switzerland and is located around 2 km south of the Elbe. The vertical cliffs and the fact that access to the plateau is only possible through narrow, easily blocked gorges make the Pfaffenstein a safe location for settlement. In addition, there is a spring on the mountain massif, which ensures a fresh water supply.

Image Source M. Trommler, Foto ©LfA 2007.

Finds from the Pfaffenstein

The archaeological finds discovered during the construction of the restaurant include vessel remains with zone hump decoration, egg-shaped pots and double cones with a notched rim. Their form allows them to be assigned to the older Lusatian culture. In addition, numerous quartz sandstone and quartz porphyry grinding stone fragments were excavated, indicating settlement activity. Among the special finds are two heavily ribbed bronze arm rings and a bronze knife blade. The superficial scatter of finds is mainly concentrated in the area north of the restaurant, which is located roughly in the middle of the plateau of the mountain massif. The settlement therefore did not extend over the entire plateau, but was limited to a smaller, delimited area.

Image Source M. Hultsch, Foto ©LfA 2021.

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Traces of settlement

On the west side of the Pfaffenstein, a semi-circular fortification about 4 m high and 200 m long can still be seen. It adjoins the steep rock faces at both ends and was used to secure access to the plateau in the Bronze Age. Today, the rampart is cut through north of the middle by a modern path up the mountain. It is unclear where the prehistoric gateway was located. So far, there has also been no evidence of a burial site in the immediate vicinity, which supports the idea that it was merely a seasonal settlement site.

Image Source R. Heynowski, Bearbeitung/DGM ©LfA/GeoSN 2024.

Excavation 1961

In 1961, under the direction of Werner Coblenz and Alfred Neugebauer, the first archaeological excavations were carried out in the area of the section fortification. A cross-section of the rampart was made, allowing a view of its structure. An approx. 2 m wide and 0.5 m deep ditch was located in front of the 4 m high rampart. Its excavated material was probably used to build the rampart. The original width of 3.2 m and the height of the fortification of 6 m, on which a palisade wall was also placed, can be calculated from the masses of debris.

Image Source A. Neugebauer, Foto ©LfA 1961.

The whale structure

On the inside of the rampart was the 3 m wide berm, the subsoil of which consisted of clay with stone paving and was apparently intended to prevent the fortification from slipping. Both fronts of the rampart were originally clad with large stone blocks. They were originally supported by a wooden structure inside the rampart. This was indicated by the remains of old wood and recesses between the stone blocks.

Image Source W. Coblenz 1964, Abb. 5.

Interpretation

An inner settlement followed closely behind the rampart. The pottery that came to light, most of which was the remains of storage vessels, corresponds to the finds from the mountain plateau. No more recent pottery from the later Lusatian culture is known either from the foot of the rampart or from the plateau. According to Werner Coblenz's interpretation, the area at the western foot of the mountain could have been used to shelter livestock at night or in case of danger. The choice of the Pfaffenstein as a settlement site is surprising in that it is located away from arable land. Accordingly, it was probably primarily the easily protected location of the mountain plateau, which was difficult to access, that played a role in the choice of location.

Image Source R. Heynowski, Foto ©LfA 2007.

The stone barn

Not far to the north-east of the rock massif is another Lusatian culture site, the "Stone Barn". This consists of two large sandstone slabs set against each other in the shape of a roof and is still used by hikers today as a shelter. Its name is derived from its actual use as a lockable barn, in which several vehicles and agricultural equipment were stored until the middle of the 20th century. Several millstones and fragments of millstones, sherds and handled cups, grooved sherds and a bronze handle-tongue dagger were found here, suggesting a small settlement or farmstead in the immediate vicinity of the hilltop settlement.

Image Source OA_67800-D-302/309, Kollage ©LfA 2024.

Research chronicle

Image Source Foto ©LfA 2024.