By Hamburg Archaeological Museum

Archäologisches Museum Hamburg Stadtmuseum Harburg|Helms-Museum

The archaeological objects from Ham(ma)burg

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Hamburg, a proud historical Hanseatic city, has a strong sense of tradition and a view of history, which is shaped by many seemingly irrefutable cornerstones. Louis the Pious made it to the capital of Nordalbingia . Hammaburg was a central town with crafts and trades as well. Melting pots are evidence of metalworking, antlers and bone remnants reveal bone carver's work and loom weights indicate the production of clothing. From the 9th century, products from many regions made their way to Hammaburg. The place remained a hub for trans-regional trade.

The Myth of Hammaburg (Modern Age (Present)) by Matthias Friedel (Luftbildfotografie), Roland Warzecha (Illustrattion), and Tim John Müller (Rendering)Hamburg Archaeological Museum

THE BEGINNINGS

Until the 9th century, various linguistic landscapes were formed out of older Germanic languages in the eastern part of the Frankish Empire. The area of Hamburg's Old Town was visited sporadically since the Neolithic period. Archaeologists have no traces of a permanent settlement in the form of foundations, rubbish pits, or gravesites so far. Until now several stone tools and fragments of pottery were the only finds.

Funnel beaker, Foto: AMH, Neolithic, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Pfeilspitze, Foto: AMH, -2100, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Saxon bossed urn, Foto: AMH, Age of the Great Migrations, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Gemeinsame Bestattung von Ross und Reiter, Foto: AMH, 0700/0750, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Golden neck ring, Foto: AMH, Age of the Great Migrations, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Ansgar’s arrival - Hammaburg entered the light of history (Middle Age) by Grafik: AMHHamburg Archaeological Museum

EARLY CHRISTIANS

After its expansion in 817/22 the Hammaburg became one of the most important border fortifications in the north of the Frankish Empire. In order to advance the missionary work of the neighboring regions in the north and to make them tributary, Emperor Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne, sent the loyal and experienced missionary Ansgar to Hammaburg in 834. Christian religion is the root of our culture. Its dissemination through Northern Germany was therefore a particularly important historical event.

Grave goods from the grave of a Saxon woman, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Cruciform brooch with glass decoration, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Cruciform brooch with glass decoration, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Cross Pendant, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Disc brooch with picture of a saint, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Building boom in Hammaburg (Middle Age) by Grafik: AMHHamburg Archaeological Museum

BUILDING BOOM IN HAMMABURG

Around 900 the powerful fortification Hammaburg III was built. The port was enlarged and the Reichenstraße Island (Reichenstraßeninsel) colonized. A shore market also came to life. Hammaburg was the intersection point of major trade routes and had connections to distant regions.

Crafts and trades, Grafik: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Wheel-thrown import ceramic, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Shards and replica of a Tating ware pitcher, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Pottery oil lamp from England, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Slavic pottery, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Round-bottomed pot made of shell-tempered ceramic, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Bowl made of soapstone, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Badorf ware, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Pingsdorf ware, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Kinderrassel, Foto: AMH, 0875/1200, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Hammaburg without castle, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Nachbildung einer Klappwaage, Foto: AMH, 2015, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Fragments of grindstones, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Whetstones, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Tuff, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Reitersporen, Foto: AMH, 1100/1200, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Riding spurs, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Temple-rings, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Gilded ring, Unknown, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Disc brooch of the Vikings, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Disc brooch of the Vikings, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Necklace with beads of glass, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Strap end, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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The Viking-Attack of 845, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Devastating Slavic raids, Unknown, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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The Ulfberht Sword - export hit of the Frankish Empire, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Pommel made of antlers, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Lance head, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Arrowhead, Unknown, Foto: AMH, Middle Age, From the collection of: Hamburg Archaeological Museum
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Lacquer peel soil profile of the ring-shaped moat of the Hammaburg I (Early Middle Ages) by Foto: AMHHamburg Archaeological Museum

FIN

The Cathedral Square is historically most important plac in Hamburg. Archaeological excavations discovered numerous traces of its eventful history. Here lies the nucleus of the Hanseatic city: the “Hammaburg”, a fortress that gave its name to the city in the 9th century AD. Under the protection of the Hammaburg, archbishop Ansgar built the first wooden church. This was a strategic missionary base for the northern crusades to convert the people’s beliefs in Denmark, Sweden and the Slavs in the area of the Baltic Sea. During excavations in the Old Town of Hamburg, late Saxon pottery was mostly found. Slavic pottery products, however, were discovered as well. The pieces of broken pottery include some which came from distant places by ship, providing evidence of the international trade Hamburg merchants were involved in.

Credits: Story

DIRECTOR & STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST
Rainer-Maria Weiss

AUTHORS
Jochen Brandt, Elke Först, Yvonne Krause, Lisa Hansen, Michael Merkel, Ingo Petri, Rainer-Maria Weiss,

REDAKTION
Michael Merkel

FINAL PROOFREADING
Kathrin Mertens

TRANSLATION
Marlene Hofmann

FINAL PROOFREADING
Jeffrey Lucas

PHOTOS
Archäologisches Museum Hamburg Stadtmuseum Harburg|Helms-Museum,Thorsten Weise, Matthias Friedel (Luftbildfotografie)

CURATOR OF THE EXHIBTION
Ingo Petri

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.