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Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 75, 2009, pp. 125–142
A Revision of Corded Ware Settlement Pattern –New
Results from the Central European Low Mountain Range
By JOHANNES MÜLLER1, TIMO SEREGÉLY2, CORNELIA BECKER3,
ANNE-METTE CHRISTENSEN4, MARKUS FUCHS5, HELMUT KROLL1, DORIS MISCHKA1,
and ULRICH SCHÜSSLER4
The excavation of the Wattendorf-Motzenstein Corded Ware settlement in Franconia (Germany) has yielded
new information with regard to the architecture, economy, and ritual activities, as well as the social
organisationofFinalNeolithicgroupsinCentralEurope.Thesettlementisdatedto2660–2470calBCandwas
an agrarian community. Detailed analyses of the material culture combined with biological and pedological
parameters allowed new interpretations regarding Corded Ware economies as well as domestic and ritual
spheres. The settlement contained about 35 individuals at most, who were organised in fewer than eight
households. The exceptional results obtained call for further research strategies to be developed.
CORDEDWAREDOMESTICEVIDENCE structureshasbeendiscoveredfromthebeltofthelow
InprehistoricEuropeoneofthemostwidespreadand and middle range mountains in Central Europe:
influential phenomena is the development of Corded Corded Ware settlement sites are generally rare on
Ware societies between the Black and the North Sea mineral soils, not only in southern and central
duringthe3rdmillenniumBC.Asimilarburialriteand Germany, but also in Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, and
similarartefacttypesoccuroverapproximatelyhalfof Austria, for example. In the central areas of Corded
Europe (Fig. 1). Despite more than 100 years of Ware distribution, burials form the vast majority of
research, the economic basis and settlement Final Neolithic sites.
organisation of Corded Ware societies in Central The exceptionally good preservation of
Europe still remain something of a puzzle (eg, waterlogged deposits known from the Swiss Lakes,
Buchvaldek & Strahm 1992; Müller 2002). Corded such as Zürich-Mozartstraße, is in strong contrast to
Ware sites are well known from the northern and the somewhat scattered pattern of settlement remains
southernperipheryofthemaindistributionareainthe hitherto unearthed between the terraces of the
Central German Middle Elbe-Saale lowlands and in Danube in Bavaria and Lower Saxony (Hecht 2007).
Bohemia. However, only a sparse record of domestic During the last decade new evidence of Corded Ware
domestic sites has only been documented from
southern Scandinavia and the Netherlands. Recent
rescue excavations in northern Germany1 and
1Institute of Prehistoric and Protohistoric Archaeology, researcheffortsinFranconiahave,however,beenable
UniversityofKiel
2DepartmentofPrehistoricandProtohistoricArchaeology, to establish a new basis for the reconstruction of
UniversityofBamberg Central European Corded Ware settlements and their
3 Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology, Free University of economy (Fig. 2). Thus the new discoveries in
Berlin Wattendorf-Motzensteinhaveimplicationsnotonlyat
4InstituteofGeography,UniversityofWürzburg aregionalscalebutalsoforCentralEurope,andeven
5InstituteofGeomorphology,UniversityofBayreuth
beyond. For instance, the Franconian site compares
wellwithcontemporaryDurringtonWalls2,Wiltshire,
Received:July2008.accepted:January2009 England,withsimilarhousearchitecture,andperhaps
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THE PREHISTORIC SOCIETY
Fig.1.
DistributionofCordedWareinEurope(2800–2200calBC).1.Wattendorf-Motzenstein;
2.areaofAlpineCordedWaresettlements
a similar social organisation behind it, a similarity settlementdatingto2660–2470calBC(Seregély2004;
perhapsmoreinfluencedbytheZeitgeistoftheperiod 2008; Müller & Seregély 2008a).
than by regional differences.
Site location and discovery
The site is located about 20 km north-east of the city
of Bamberg (Figs 3–4), at a huge rocky dolomite
THECORDEDWAREHAMLETOFWATTENDORF-
MOTZENSTEIN outcrop called the Motzenstein (511 m a.s.l.). The
In order to gain more information on Final Neolithic outcrop has a panoramic outlook and is of striking
settlement patterns, different excavation campaigns appearance; it is still used, for example, as a holy
focusingonFranconiawereundertakenfrom2001to place during local catholic processions (Fig. 4). The
2006 by the Department of Prehistoric and settlementitselfispositionedonalargeUpperJurassic
Protohistoric Archaeology, Bamberg University and rise consisting of dolomites. To the north and north-
the Institute of Prehistoric and Protohistoric west these Franconia plateau heights reach c. 540 m
Archaeology, Kiel. The research effort resulted in the a.s.l.AtthefarthestedgeoftheAlbtrauf,steepslopes
discoveryofavarietyofFinalNeolithicdomesticsites form deep contributory valleys less than 1 km away
on the Franconian Alb, of which Wattendorf- which, in turn, lead to the Main river valley 10 km
Motzenstein yielded well preserved remains of a distant. Two Tertiary or Pleistocene depressions flank
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J.Mülleretal.CORDEDWARESETTLEMENTPATTERN–NEWRESULTSFROMC.EUROPEANLOWMOUNTAINRANGE
Fig.2.
DistributionofFinalNeolithicsitesinCentralEuropeandthesettlementWattendorf-MotzensteinintheCentral
EuropeanLowMountainRange(afterSeregély2008;Müller& Seregély2008).CordedWaresitesmentioned
inthetextareshown
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THE PREHISTORIC SOCIETY
Fig.3.
Wattendorf-Motzensteinanditssurroundings:reconstructedareasofeconomicactivitiesandrawmaterialresourcesin
thesite’svicinity.Hypotheticalarableandpasturelandsofaneighbouringsitearealsomarked.1.Stübig-Rothensteine;
2.Kümmersreuth-Deisenstein;3.Wattendorf-Motzenstein;4.Großziegenfeld-Siebensteine.
the plateau, and a predominance of soliflucted, loessicsediments.Totheeastasteepslopecutsoffthe
translocated red terra fusca clays overlies the Jurassic settlement and the ridge of distinctive outcrops from
dolomite to the west and north-west. Remains of a the remaining valleys. In the vicinity of the site
loess layer can be found to the east and north-east. (usually less than c. 2 km) flint and sandstone
To the west and south of the settlement, one of the sources (for the production of tools and querns) are
above-mentioneddepressionsformsaslightdryvalley accessible (Fig. 3).
of about 30 km². It possesses some agricultural Initially,surfacecollectionsundertakenbyamateur
potential as the whole area was originally covered by archaeologists in the 1950s emphasised the
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The site is spatially divided into two distinctive
parts. On the rocky outcrop (520 m a.s.l.) there is a
more-or-less flat depression, from where the survey
team recovered Corded Ware remains indicating a
spatiallydiscreteritualarea.Tenmetresdownslope,at
the base of the rocks (507–511 m a.s.l.), a 50 x 50 m
largearearevealedalayoutofsunkenfloorsandsmall
terraces. As the target area is currently covered by
heavy beech vegetation, both the surveys and the
excavationshadtocompromisetothesituation:apart
from sieving and feature-oriented digging the
excavation was restricted by the tree cover.
Nevertheless, 488 m² were excavated, constituting
about 20% of this Final Neolithic site.
The plateau: ritual activities
The oval plateau on top of the outcrop (measuring
4–8x8m)isaccessedbyaflightofnaturalstairsand
is composed of a natural dolomite ‘tower’ and an
erosion trough filled with terra fusca, and yellowish
loesssediments,alongwithlayersofweatheredrocky
debris rich in humus. While the topsoil contained
medieval and Iron Age artefacts, Corded Ware
materialswereretrievedfromtheunderlyinglayersin
the central depression. Linearbandkeramik ceramics
were discovered at the margins of the trough.
Thedistributionofartefactsindicatesthatadeposit
Fig.4. of used grinders and querns was placed in this
Siteplanandphotographshowingtrenchesontopofthe
extraordinary natural position during the Final
rockyoutcropandonthesurroundingterrain.Rocksare
Neolithic(Fig.5).A400mmlongquernweighing30
markedingrey
kg was placed upside down on the ground. Smaller
querns (again upside down) were positioned along its
edges. A further grinder was placed on top of the
significance of the site – a significance underlined by larger quern. The base for a post was unearthed 1 m
the more recent surveys reported here and in the to the north of the deposit of millstones. It consisted
recognitionofthesiteasoneoftherareCordedWare ofthepost-hole,threesupportingboulders,andaflat
domestic sites of the Central European low mountain dolomite stone placed to hinder the sinking of the
ranges. As a result, excavations were undertaken original post into the silty loess. Corded Ware sherds
during several field campaigns from 2002 to 2006, associatedwiththesefeaturesarelessfragmentedthan
whichrevealedtheuseoftherockyoutcropasaritual those from the domestic layers downhill (average
place in prehistory, and of the surroundings of the weight of 5.9 g versus 3.6 g). Wellenleistenkeramik
Motzenstein for domestic purposes around (pots with ‘short-wave moulding’), which are usually
2660–2470 cal BC (Fig. 4). Hence, for the first time, associatedwithdomesticactivities,areabsentwhereas
domestic features were discovered that produced a sherds of beakers are present in some numbers. In
suitable economic record of Corded Ware societies in combination with the extraordinary character of this
the central area of their distribution. Beside outcrop we think that the activities which took place
archaeological fieldwork, typo-chronological and here are of a ritual character.
scientific analyses placed the Motzenstein community This view is supported by the discovery of a
in the framework of various interactive spheres. pointedflintbladeinasmallabrionthenorthernface
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THE PREHISTORIC SOCIETY
ground consists of clay and terra fusca above the
dolomitebedrock.Areddishburntspot(1.0x0.8m)
denoted a fireplace, while a small pit was interpreted
as a rubbish feature. Some other features could be
remains of post- or stake-holes although their small
diameters were not in consistent with a roof carrying
capacity.Alargeflattenedboulderbesidethefireplace
represented an original feature. Judging from the
radiocarbon dates, the compact sedimentation
contained debris corresponding to about 50–160
years (Fig. 9).
Differences in the spatial distribution of artefact
categories demonstrate different activity zones within
the house. The inhabitants did not remove every
broken item from the actual floor but obviously
levelled the indoor area after a certain time by the
introductionofaclayishsoilsubstrate.Asaresultwe
can see a clear stratigraphic pattern of different
artefact categories from different levels of the
substrate. It was possible to differentiate a workshop
for the production of ground tools, a place for
consumption and living, an area for cooking, and a
place for depositing waste (Fig. 8). In addition, the
Fig.5.
TheCordedWaremillstonedepositandthepost-holewith successive layers of the sunken floor contained
supportingbouldersontherockyoutcropofthe domestic waste in differing proportions. During the
Motzenstein(photo:TimoSeregély). periodofdeposition(weestimate3–6generations)the
actual location of various activities within the hut
changed significantly. Only the upper filling of the
floor revealed no spatial distribution pattern and
of the outcrop (Fig. 6, 13). Such weapons are usually
merely contained a multitude of small sherds.
only known from Corded Ware burials, or else as
Production waste, such as animal bones, and several
single stray finds, but here the specimen has been
complete flint scrapers were retrieved from this final
deposited in the most prominent position within this
periodlayer,allofwhichpointstoeconomicactivities.
landscape.
Thelackofclearpost-holesissignificantandmakes
thereconstructionoftheoverallarchitecturedifficult.
The pinnacle: domestic structures Nevertheless, the overall results make it clear that we
In contrast to the features and finds on the aredealingherewithsmallloghuts(Fig.13),ofwhich
Motzenstein pinnacle, at least four trapezoidal hut the floor was dug about 300 mm into the
structures8mlongand5–6mwidewerevisibletothe original ground. Surveys and sondages showed
north-east in the geomagnetic survey (Seregély 2008, that the inhabited area of the site was restricted to
29, fig. 23) and indicate the domestic part of the site. about 2000 m².
Four huts were excavated. They were oriented north- A Final Neolithic pavement could be recognised
west to south-east and lay alongside a pavement of fromthedistributionofdolomitebouldersbesideand
dolomiteboulderswhichdemarkateapathwaywithin between the huts (Fig. 7). Artefacts discovered here
the settlement (Fig. 7). illustrate its use during the Corded Ware period and
Feature14wasdugabout400mmintotheground confirm that we are dealing with an ancient surface.
(Fig. 8). The filling consisted of a more-or-less silt- Four flint blades (Fig. 6, 14–17) and one stone adze
dominated substrate with charcoal and Final were deposited beneath this stone layer. The linear
Neolithic remains and artefacts, including daub, extent of this pavement between the four north-west
ceramics,flints,andbones(Fig.6,1–10).Thenatural to south-east oriented huts suggests the existence of a
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Fig.6.
AselectionofartefactsfromWattendorf-Motzenstein:1–8.ceramics;9.millstone(sandstone);10.axe
(Aktinolith-Hornblende-Schist);11.imitationwheel(ceramic);12.imitationaxe(ceramic);13–17knives(flint).
Allscale1:3exceptNo.9=1:6
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THE PREHISTORIC SOCIETY
Rorenhaab: 80 years; Zürich-Mozartstrasse: >100
years; Lüscherz sites with Corded Ware influence:
50–100 years; compare Seregély 2008, 83). A
sequence calibration with combined radiocarbon
dates of each occupation phase pointed to similar
chronological markers: 2660–2570 cal BC to
2550–2470 cal BC (Fig. 9).
Local pottery production and other ceramics
Typo-chronological aspects of the recovered material
culture support both the results of the AMS-dating as
well as the suggestion of a relative short duration for
the site. The pottery comprises sherds of earlier
Bavarian Corded Ware beakers, amphorae, and pots
(Fig.6).Cordedandstitcheddecorationsdominateon
s-profiledbeakers,whilepotsareoftendecoratedwith
Wellenleisten(‘short-wavemoulding’)orotherplastic
elements, and amphorae with scratches, cord
impressions, or stitches. Decoration with cord-
impressions is restricted to beakers retrieved from the
top layer and hence from the final use of the
excavated site. MGR- (Matrix Group by Refiring),
thin section, and chemical analyses demonstrated the
Fig.7. useofmanydifferenttypesofclay(Daszkiewiczetal.
Planofthedomesticarea.Rocks(black)and 2008). The dominant tempering materials are grog,
archaeologicalfeatures.Housestructure14inthesouth, sand, and calcium carbonate. The firing temperature
withremainsofthreeotherCordedWarehousesand
was800–900°C.Ourconclusionfromthewiderange
thepavedpath
of clay recipes is that pottery production at the site
was not specialised, but aimed at local domestic
demand. The observed variability could also indicate
constructed pathway of at least 40 m length and 2 m
the presence of relocated or married persons who
width. Judging from the area of the settlement, not
brought ceramics with them. An exchange of
more than eight huts could have existed
ceramic products between the various local
contemporaneously. Consequently, it does not make
settlements is conceivable.
sense to speak about a village here, but rather we are
Furtherimportantceramicfindsconsistofaspindle
dealing with a small hamlet.
whorl and small imitations of wheels and miniature
axes (Fig. 6.11–12). While the former hints at wool
Dating and duration production,thelatterprobablyrepresentitemswitha
AMS-dating indicates that hut 14 was occupied more ritual purpose. Most artefacts are broken,
during the period 2630–2580 to 2580–2470 cal BC mostlyacrosstheshaft-hole(ie,atthehaft).However,
(Seregély 2008, 82, fig. 67; Appendix). Two relevant ethnography analogy, along with the lack of an
radiocarbon dates from the deepest layer display an obvious function, means that a use as toys cannot
overlaparound2630calBC,whileadatefromthetop completely be ruled out. Both miniature wheels and
layercorrespondswithtwofromanoutdoorareaand miniature axes are known from east Central and
points to a date somewhere between 2580 cal BC and south-east European contexts at different periods.
2470 cal BC. In consequence we are talking of at least
50 years of occupation and perhaps as much as 160 Flint and ground stones: local and far distance
years. These results are consistent with dendro- exchange
chronological dates obtained from waterlogged Flint materials are dominated by blades and end
Corded Ware sites in Switzerland (eg, Meilen- scrapers with retouched edges. These are made of
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J.Mülleretal.CORDEDWARESETTLEMENTPATTERN–NEWRESULTSFROMC.EUROPEANLOWMOUNTAINRANGE
Fig.8.
Structure14.Theartefactdistributionwithinthestructurewasusedtoreconstructactivityareas.A.planofthe
archaeologicalfeatures;B.distributionofrubbers;C.boneweightdistribution(g/m³);D.reconstructionofactivityzones
intheCordedWarehouse
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THE PREHISTORIC SOCIETY
Fig.9.
Structure14.Asequencecalibrationofthecombined radiocarbondatesofeachphase(OxCalv4v0.5;compareBronk
Ramsey2007;Reimer2004).SeeAppendixfordetailedresultsofeachdate
localornon-localJurahornsteinand,exceptionally,of Jurahornstein from the middle or southern
theso-calledPlattensilexfromArnhofenorBaiersdorf Franconian Alb (of which flakes are missing). The
(Seregély 2008, 66f.). Manufacturing waste verifies occurrenceofastoneadzealongwithadzeblanksand
flint production at the site and comprises only local, production debris from the production of faceted
low quality material. In contrast, most artefacts are adzes demonstrates the production and use of these
produced from better quality raw material, ie, tools at the site. Half-finished axes and drill cores
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