Thronitz ring system
| Place: | Schkölen (Markranstädt, Leipzig) |
|---|---|
| Type: | Round trench work 2-fold |
| Dating: | Unstrut Group | 1000 - 800 BC. |
Description
In the run-up to the laying of the JAGAL natural gas pipeline, the excavation of the section near Schkölen and Thronitz began in August 1998. As the excavation area was limited to the part directly affected by the route, only around a third of the prehistoric earthworks in the west were investigated. It had a diameter of approx. 100 m and used to have four trenches. Based on the pottery sherds found during the excavation, it could be assigned to the Late Bronze Age Unstrut Group (10. - 9. Century v. Chr.), which is particularly widespread in southern Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and north-western Saxony.
Annemarie ReckThe structure
The ring enclosure was completely unknown before the excavations began, as the features were covered by a layer of soil over 70 cm thick and were therefore only slightly visible in the aerial photograph. After the topsoil was removed, a total of four trenches were revealed, of which the two outer trenches with a width of 2 m to 2.2 m should be emphasized. The outermost ditch was still up to 1 m deep and had a 1 m wide base. The inner, somewhat wider ditch, on the other hand, consisted more of pit-like deepened sections of around 1.2 m, which varied with depths of 1.65 m and more in places. Shallow beds alternated with pointed ditches. Particularly striking were the post pits that surrounded the second ditch on both sides at a distance of 3 m to 3.5 m and belonged to palisades.
Annemarie ReckImage Source Christoph Steinmann, Grabungsplan ©LfA 2000.
The inner surface
Within the two dominant outer ditches, there are two inner ditches roughly in the center of the presumably ring-shaped complex, which significantly reduce the inner area. The innermost ring only encloses an area of 200 m2. The two much narrower inner ditches were palisade ditches, 20 cm to 30 cm wide and 10 cm to 15 cm deep, with clear traces of posts. Other features were almost exclusively located within the ditch rings. There were also only a few cases of overlapping pits, which could indicate a longer period of use or a multi-phase structure.
Annemarie ReckImage Source O. Braasch, Foto ©LfA 1998.
Animal bone and pottery finds
Although similar sites are otherwise mainly known from the Neolithic culture of the Linear Pottery (5000-4500 BC), the pottery found corresponds typologically to the forms and characteristics of the Late Bronze Age Unstrut culture. In addition, numerous animal bones came to light in the trench backfill. The comparatively small size of the cattle bones, which also argues against a Neolithic date, was already noticeable during an initial inspection. There are also horse bones. Of the two 14C samples from cattle bones, only one could be measured. It yielded a calibrated age of 1370-1090 BC (accuracy 1σ=68.5%).
Annemarie ReckImage Source C. Steinmann, Foto ©LfA 1998.
Bronze finds
The discovery of several bronze objects is also particularly noteworthy. A bronze bracelet (7.2 cm in diameter) was recovered from the outer trench. An arrowhead (5.3 cm and 3.4 cm) was also found in the inner and outer trenches. The remains of a needle (5.5 cm) and some bronze wire were also found. The majority of the pottery and animal bone finds were found in the lower part of the backfill horizon (below 1 m depth). The comparatively numerous bronze finds, on the other hand, were found at a maximum depth of up to 60 cm. They may therefore only have been found in the soil after a main use phase. A single and heavily fragmented human skull was discovered at approximately the same depth as the bronzes.
Annemarie ReckImage Source C. Steinmann 2000, 53, Abb. 8. Maße im Text.
Aerial view of the plant
Around 14 years after the excavation of the ringfort, it was possible to observe the previously unknown eastern section from the air for the first time when the further course of the ditches was revealed in the vegetation in July 2012. The combination of the aerial photo findings and the excavation plan made it possible to fully reconstruct the outline of the Late Bronze Age ring fort. If the feature had only been known from the aerial prospection, its appearance would most likely have been interpreted as a Neolithic ditch. However, the unambiguous excavation finds show it to be almost 4000 years younger and demonstrate how crucial it is to check sites known purely from aerial prospection.
Annemarie ReckImage Source R. Heynowski, Foto ©LfA 2012.
Literature
Dana Mikschofsky, Eine Grabenanlage halb und halb. In: Regina Smolnik/Ronny Zienert (Hrsg.), Höhenflüge. Luftbilder und Archäologie in Sachsen (Dresden 2024) 62–63.
C. Steinmann, Sieben Jahrtausende in einem Schnitt – Die JAGAL in Sachsen. In: Archäologie an der JAGAL – 10 000 Jahre auf 300 Kilometern (Wünsdorf, Dresden, Halle [Saale] 1999) 26–34.
C. Steinmann, Der nächste Schnitt – Ausgrabungen an der JAGAL. Archäologie aktuell Freistaat Sachsen 6, 1998/1999 (2000) 48–57.
Note on monument protection
Archaeological monuments are protected by the Saxon Monument Protection Act. A permit under monument law is required for ground interventions or construction measures.
Permalink
https://archaeo-sn.de/en/ort/thronitz-ring-system/
Citation
Annemarie Reck, Thronitz ring system. In: Landesamt für Archäologie Sachsen, Website archaeo | SN (14.06.2024). https://archaeo-sn.de/en/ort/thronitz-ring-system/ (Stand: 23.01.2025)
