Bronzezeithaus Hahnenknoop

The Bronze Age House

In 1971, a new canal, the “Strohauser Sieltief“, was constructed in the area

around Rodenkirchen in the district of Wesermarsh. During dredging work

on the grounds of the Hahnenknooper Mill, pre-historic remains were

found. The remains of two farms dating from the Late Bronze Age, were

discovered, but were almost completely destroyed through the dredging

work. From 1996 to 2001, the Lower Saxony Institute for Coastal Research

in Wilhelmshaven, completely exposed the main building of a third farm.

The first farmers in the Marsh

The Bronze Age settlement at the Hahnenknooper Mill is unique. Around

900 BC, nearly 3,000 years ago, the settlement was inhabited by people of

the Late Bronze Age. So far, this is the oldest settlement to have been

discovered on the German North Sea coast.

The settlement was built on flat land. The artificial hills used for houses

and whole villages which are typical for the marsh landscape, were built

many centuries later.

The site of the settlement was situated at the foot of the back of the River

Weser levee, or one of the river`s tributaries, in Sietland. The Sietland

region which bordered on to the river embankment, was characterised by

moors, and was first cultivated and drained from the Middle Ages onwards.

The three-aisled dwelling which was also a byre, was made mainly of alder

wood, with small amounts of ash. Reeds were used for both the roof and

floor covering in the stable. The living area was slightly raised through

grass sods, in order to provide protection against the surrounding damp

area.

Animal husbandry was the basic economical support of the settlement.

The most important domestic animal was the cow, which was much

smaller then. Also, sheep were kept for milk and wool. Most of the protein

requirements were possibly provided by fish. Game was very rarely

caught. Apart from these, agriculture was used. Barley was the main crop,

followed by emmer and einkorn, archetypes of wheat, millet, oats, field

beans, and oil plants such as flax and gold-of-pleasure, also known as

false flax. Relatively plentiful remains of plants such as blackberries,

juniper, sloe, rosehips, strawberries, wild apples, and hazelnuts, were

found.

Tools and machinery

Among the remains more frequently discovered, were fragments of clay

pots. Apart from these, remains of vessels made of wood, and remains of

machinery made from bones, horns, rock stones and flintstones, were

found. Clay fragments, probably from a small model boat, and an animal

figurine, as well as a very small container made of clay which was an

imitation of a bronze belt box, were probably children`s toys.

The remains of clay pots and shapes used for casting, were an important

discovery, which proved that a bronze forger had worked in the

Hahnenknooper Mill settlement. The remains also demonstrate that both

smooth and ornamental neck rings as jewellery, were produced.

The Bronze Age Hahnenknoop eV Support Group

In 2005, the support group reached its goal of re-building the excavated

farm, traced back to 900 BC, as close to the original as possible. The

Lower Saxony Institute for Coastal Research in Wilhelmshaven, supported

the project in all aspects of research.

The re-building was financed by the EU programme “Leader +”, the fund

“Wesermarsh in Bewegung” and sponsors in the region.

The Bronze Age house is mostly financed by donations, member’s

subscriptions and contributions to expenses. Extra-curricular projects are

supported by the Regional Council of The Wesermarsh.

Address: Bronze Age House, Hartwarderwurp, 26935 Stadland

GPS: longitude: 08° 25´ 06´´ east, latitude: 53° 24´ 15´´ north.