Die kaiser- bis völkerwanderungszeitliche Siedlung Buschow 8, Lkr. Havelland. Brunnenbau und Wasserversorgung im Westen der Germania Magna (original) (raw)

2022, Arbeitsberichte zur Bodendenkmalpflege in Brandenburg 39

During the 1990s, the pre- and protohistoric settlement site of Buschow 8, Havelland region, Federal State of Brandenburg, Germany was excavated. During the construction of the now existing high-speed train connection between the cities of Berlin and Hanover, this site yielded traces of several prehistoric epochs, as well as several ditchsystems used for the division of parcels of land dating back to the Middle Ages or early Modern Era. The majority of the excavated structures belong to a larger and only partially investigated settlement dating back to the Roman and Migration Period. According to secured finds and dendrochronologically analysed logs originating from several excavated wells, the settlement existed continuously from the 2nd to the 5th century AD. Yet, only two farmsteads have been reliably recorded in the south of the site. Here, with 'Farmstead 1' and 'Farmstead 2', two more or less consecutive homesteads have been unearthed. According to the disturbance of its main building by a well dug in 291 AD 'Farmstead 1' existed during the 3rd, possibly already the late 2nd, century AD. Together with several pit-houses and granaries situated to the north, it formed a widespread and more or less irregular compound, typical for the early stages of the development of farmsteads in the northern and western parts of the Germania Magna. The reconstruction of the younger 'Farmstead 2' is less certain. According to their relative chronology, several pit houses, granaries, pits and fireplaces, as well as the two wells, are synchronous with the main building, making it possible to incorporate them into its homestead. Therefore, 'Farmstead 2' shows the same irregular layout as did its predecessor. Alternatively, a second possible reconstruction is proposed, including a smaller house, standing almost perpendicular to the long-house. Thus, both buildings flank an area almost free of further archaeological structures but frequently used during the Roman and Migration Period. The northern part of the site is predominantly characterized by several pit houses, granaries, pits and wells/water pits. Together with the recovered artifacts they document the use of this zone mainly for manufacturing and storage. Especially the high frequency of spindle-whorls and loom-weights, combined with bone-awls and other bone-tools, suggest that the fabrication of textiles took place in this area. Furthermore, the high amount of semi-products and production residues of antler recovered out of the infill of a large and formerly damp hollow propose the existence of a comb-makers workshop during the 4th-5th century AD. On the eastern and north-eastern fringes of the settlement, divided by a strip almost void of any structures from the before mentioned area, lies a zone seemingly confined to production processes involving fire. The majority of fireplaces excavated on this site, as well as a pit-furnace used to produce quicklime, are concentrated here. The 13 excavated wells and water pits are situated in all three parts of the settlement and are dug at places that obviously were best suited for a quick reach of the groundwater table, therefore forming clusters in several areas of the site. Similar to other synchronous wells, the artificial water-supplies in Buschow were dug in open-cast pits, that had been refilled after the construction of the casing. As in the case of Buschow, artificial water-supplies in the Germania Magna are in one way or the other incorporated into its surrounding, allowing further conclusions on a mutual context of use. Apart from the function of wells as a supply of freshwater for several farmsteads, water is also needed for numerous production processes. In Buschow nine of the thirteen excavated wells are located in the two production zones and can be more or less directly bound to several manufacturing processes. Similar connections can be observed all over the Germania Magna, were, apart from the frequent combination with iron-bloomeries and installations for the production of quicklime, more and more indications prove an incorporation into the manufacturing processes of textiles and antler-combs. Even though the wells excavated in Buschow form a profound cross-section of artificial water-supplies dug in the course of the first 500 years AD, a synthesis of those structures excavated inside the borders of modern Germany - excluding the parts formerly incorporated into the Roman Empire - shows a much greater variety concerning the construction of casings. Until today the state of research shows several gaps, that in many cases prevent profound interpretations, however, the compiled features can be divided into five larger groups, each consisting of several types and variations. The following construction forms are proven within the research area: squared log-wells (group I), wooden tube-shaped wells (group II), wattle-wells (group III), well-casings made of turf (group IV), stone-aligned wells in drywall construction (group V). Apart from these, water pits void of any secure proof of stabilization (group VI) were recognized. In many cases this absence of any casing is due to taphonomic processes. For several of the other construction types' chorological and/or chronological distribution focuses can be deduced. The finds recovered from the site in Buschow are a good example of the material culture characteristic for Roman to Migration Period settlements east of the river Elbe. The largest category of finds is formed by the remains of ceramic vessels. Especially the sheer quantity of sherds obtained from the site separates Buschow 8 from other synchronous settlements in eastern and north-eastern Germany. Apart from a vast majority of sherds belonging to thick-walled and chronologically unsensitive vessel-types, especially finer made multi-partite bowls and dishes with narrow necks proof that the site of Buschow belongs to the so called 'Elbe-Germanic-Culture'. Especially in phase B2 ties can be seen to the regions lying to the north and northwest of the site. Later on, formal analogies for the local ceramics are more wide-spread and the centres of their main distribution change over time. In phases C1-C2 vessel-types and ornamentation show strong bonds to the Altmark and Hannoversches Wendland, lying to the west of the Havelland region, as well as the lands between the rivers Saale and Mulde to the south. In course of the 3rd - and even stronger during the 4th and 5th centuries AD - the material shows affinities to the stylistic canon of eastern Holstein and western Mecklenburg, stretching as far as middle and southern Germany and Bohemia. Equally widespread, although not as good to judge, are the sparse artifacts made of non-ferrous metals found in Buschow. Analogies spread from Scandinavia and the Baltics to South-Eastern and Eastern Europe.