Die Geschichte der ersten Siedler - Strandwälle und Wurten im nördlichen Butjadingen

Since fall 2023, the Lower Saxony Institute for Historical Coastal Research (NIhK) has been studying “Beach ridges and mounds in Butjadingen” to investigate the origins of the landscape and the development of settlements in the Butjadingen coastal marsh. The focus is on the wurten (warften) and beach ridges in the area between Langwarden and Roddens and their formation approximately 2,000 years ago.
As part of this interdisciplinary research project, archaeological excavations have since been conducted at the Hasenburg mound and between two mounds in Iggewarden, and geological drilling campaigns have taken place. During these excavations, freshwater ponds (fethinge), a well, animal bones, pottery fragments, metal artifacts, and semi-finished wooden bowls were discovered. All three hillforts examined had access to a tidal channel, at least at the beginning of their settlement. In Iggewarden in particular, numerous man-made ditches and hillfort embankments were found in the bed of a tidal channel, evidencing intensive use of the surrounding area. Furthermore, the analysis and dating of the beach ridges using various core samples provide a better understanding of the landscape’s formation and chronology.
The presentation provides detailed information about the research project and the current status of the findings. Afterward, the researchers will be available to answer questions.