A 2,400-year-old timber structure in an outstanding state of preservation on the banks of the River Main in Bavaria. It is unique in Germany. No other structure of this age, construction method and condition has been found before.
The Iron Age timbers were discovered by construction workers in a rainwater overflow basin at the Willigis Bridge in Aschaffenburg. They were part of a larger stone wall. Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments (BLfD) used radiocarbon dating to determine the age of the timbers and the analysis found the oak trees were felled between 372-352 B.C.
“We don’t yet know what the complex was used for. We suspect that it protected the access from the Main up to the settlement. Immediately in front of the large structure made of dry stone walls and an elaborate wooden beam construction was the a wooden platform towards the river. Perhaps boats docked here, goods were and loads,” says Dr. Stefanie Berg, Head of the Department of Archaeological Monument Preservation at the BLfD. The complex testifies to astonishing craftsmanship and construction knowledge. In its construction it must have been adapted to the difficult requirements of the damp subsoil, which could only be realized with considerable effort.
Dr. Stefanie Berg: “A structure like this was no small undertaking. It required many people, sound planning, and a great deal of work. The oak timbers were felled and processed in the Spessart region and—like the stonework—transported here via the River Main. On site, dry-stone walls were erected, and the heavy beams were precisely fitted into the structure. The building would have been visible from afar, clearly signaling that this was a place of significance—and one that its inhabitants knew how to defend.”
To ensure their long-term preservation after discovery, the timbers will be recovered, cleaned and placed in a basin of water to keep them from drying out. Each beam will be laser scanned and 3D models made for remote study. Marks from Iron Age axes and adzes have already been recorded and will provide new insights into carpentry techniques Already the first third of the heavy timbers has been raised by a crane. After the wood is stabilized, a selection of the timbers will be displayed to the public at the Aschaffenburg Abbey Museum.
Excavations will continue through the end of the year. A multi-disciplinary team that includes archaeologists, architects, geoarchaeologists and archaeobotanists are examining the structure, the soil around it and traces of plant material at the find site. Visitors will have the chance to view the excavation on September 13, Open Monument Day, with a BLfD archaeologist serving as guide.
The importance and uniqueness of the structure underscores the regional significance of the Celtic settlement that would become Aschaffenburg. In conjunction with Open Monument Day, the Aschaffenburg Abbey Museum will display Celtic artifacts found in the city, some of which have never before been exhibited.
* This article was originally published here
