Man and environment in the marsh area of Schleswig–Holstein from Roman until late Medieval times

Abstract

Reconstruction of coastal development, environment and settlement history is one of the main objectives of coastal archaeology in Schleswig–Holstein. The fieldwork program concentrated until 1975 on the excavation of dwelling mounds, and after that on the reconstruction of the landscape and settlement history of large areas. Cultural elements of the coastal area were mapped in several surveys integrating archaeological, geological and palaeobotanical aspects on the island of Sylt (Archsum project), in the North Frisian tidal flats (Norderhever project), on the Eiderstedt penisula, and in Dithmarschen. According to this kind of research, environmental changes dominated the settlement history and settlement pattern in the 1st millennium AD. Archaeological finds and excavations indicate that the earliest coastal settlements were founded in the salt marshes of Schleswig–Holstein in the early Roman period. In Dithmarschen as well as in the southern part of Eiderstedt the river marshes and salt marshes were densely populated during this period. In the 1st and 2nd century AD the inhabitation of the area took place in a phase of lowering of the sea level. The settlements were erected on the natural surface of the coastal marshland, preferably on elevated areas. Thereafter, a rising sea level and intensified flooding led to the abandonment of some settlements. At other localities the inhabitants protected themselves against the storm surges by the construction of dwelling mounds, so-called Wurten. The first phase of inhabitation of the coastal marshland ended at about AD 450. A second phase of inhabitation of the coastal marshes began in the middle or late 7th century AD. It started with new settlements on the natural land surface of the marshland and was followed by as second phase of Wurt construction. The present-day North Frisian tidal flat area was covered with extended peat bogs and could not be inhabited before high Medieval times. Starting with this period the natural landscape changed to a cultural landscape. Cooperatives of peasants and the parishes played an important role in this process. Dikes were built and deep seated areas were drained and cultivated. In the late Middle Ages catastrophic storm floods had terrible effects: the sea destroyed large parts of the North Frisian Utlande. Remnants of this period like Warften, dikes, field pattern, and churches, are still visible in the present-day tidal flats. The unfavourable combination of human activities (peat cutting for salt production) and natural geological processes was responsible for the catastrophic floods of late Medieval times. Cultural monuments of this evolution are still preserved in the coastal landscape. The protection of the Cultural Heritage is of high value for the future.