Engraved slate from Gönnersdorf

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Coordinates: 50 ° 26 ′ 51.5 ″  N , 7 ° 24 ′ 55.6 ″  E

Relief Map: Germany
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Upper Palaeolithic archaeological site Gönnersdorf​
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Germany

The engraved slabs of the Paleolithic Gönnersdorf site are among the world's most important works of art by mankind . They are around 15,500 years old and represent a unique archive for the art of Magdalenian and its function in settlement behavior and social organization.

The Gönnersdorf site

The Gönnersdorf site is one of the largest and best-researched settlement sites of the late Ice Age. Gönnersdorf (part of the Feldkirchen district of the city of Neuwied in the Middle Rhine region ) is located on the right bank of the Rhine, at the northern end of the Middle Rhine basin , and dates back to around 15,500 years in the late Upper Palaeolithic or Magdalenian.

The Paleolithic settlement was discovered in 1968 as part of construction work.

The concentrations of finds uncovered during the 1968–1976 excavations were exceptionally well preserved because they were covered by the pumice layers of the Laacher See volcano, twelve kilometers away as the crow flies . A wealth of finds, good conservation and extensive, careful excavations under the direction of Gerhard Bosinski make Gönnersdorf one of the world's most important archives for life at the end of the last Ice Age. Gönnersdorf is particularly famous for its numerous works of art (engraved slates, female statuettes of the " Gönnersdorf type "). Research on this site, in connection with other important settlements of the Ice Age (e.g. Andernach, Niederbieber , Bad Breisig ), is now being continued by scientists from the Monrepos Archaeological Research Center and Museum for Human Behavioral Evolution of the Roman-Germanic Central Museum in Mainz , which is located in another district of Neuwied is located.

The latest research on Gönnersdorf focuses and a. on the reconstruction of settlement behavior and the analyzes of the engraved slates.

The slates of slate

The numerous slabs of slate in partly multilayer large-area slab layers in Gönnersdorf are a unique testimony to early human architecture and the associated regulations that organized spatial coexistence. The slates were apparently used in variable functions, as paving, in fireplaces, as lamps, jewelry or a surface for artistic presentations. Similar to what is practiced with stone artefacts, it was also possible with the Gönnersdorfer slate slabs to put together fragments of slabs that used to belong together. The mapping of these matchings shows how the fragments were moved across the settlement over long distances and in different functions.

Many of the slates or their fragments are engraved. Engravings can be found in all stages of size and on the most varied of surface textures on the slate.

Engraved slates of slate

Over 450 engraved slabs of slate were discovered in Gönnersdorf; many of them have multiple engravings or are even provided with many overlapping engravings almost over the entire area. The representations can be divided into three categories:

Gönnersdorfer slab (redrawing and photo)
  • 1. Schematic depictions of women

The characteristic, schematic and symbolic depictions of women are referred to worldwide as depictions of women of the "Gönnersdorf type" based on the place where they were first discovered and defined. So far, more than 400 such engravings have been recognized on the Gönnersdorf slate. These depictions of women have since been discovered across Europe as two-dimensional drawings or statuettes and are an important characteristic of Stone Age art in Europe. Women are shown very schematically and are often deeply engraved several times. Comparative studies of female figures in the context of older Paleolithic depictions of women such as the Venus of Willendorf make it probable that depictions of women were a vehicle for communication at the end of the last Ice Age. At the same time, they symbolize the role of women in the vital networks of stable social relationships.

Gönnersdorf mammoth
  • 2. naturalistic animal representations

The more than 270 animal depictions are mostly very naturalistic, detailed and often moved. In the zoological-looking animal engravings, no representation seems to be the same as the others. What makes it difficult to decipher them is the often strong overlay of other lines. The spectrum ranges from numerous horse and mammoth engravings to ibex, wolf, bear, woolly rhinoceros, saiga antelope to seals, frogs, turtles or even birds, which are less common in paleolithic art. The most common are horse engravings.

Interestingly enough, the remains of the animal species depicted in the engravings are hardly or not at all represented in the intensively researched bone material in Gönnersdorf. Thus, not only animals that were hunted and eaten were shown; the engraved plates are therefore not a kind of "menu". Their naturalistic and detailed representations nevertheless suggest that people actually knew these animals firsthand and met them somewhere.

  • 3. Signs and symbols (e.g. circles, bundles of lines, zigzag lines)

Recurring abstract signs and symbols are another category of representation on the slate of Gönnersdorf. However, they are much more difficult to distinguish from accidental signs of use. In 2010, the signs and symbols were examined in more detail as part of a doctoral thesis in Monrepos.

Scenic representations

On some plates there are several depictions of animals one above the other or next to one another or there are combinations of animal engravings and schematic woman engravings. It is often discussed whether it could be a representation of scenes (e.g. hunting scenes, birth scenes). The representation of several female engravings in a row is interpreted as a dance scene, for example.

Representations of Venus

3D scans

Current analyzes of the engravings using 3D scans show the stylistic conventions of Ice Age art, but also the individual intentions of individual artists. The results of this pilot study open up new perspectives for research into Ice Age art, which can be grasped here in direct connection with individual human behavior and social regulations.

Spatial Analysis

The spatial distribution patterns of certain representations on the settlement area are currently being investigated. They will show the exact context of the works of art and thus provide information about their function in the settlement process.

interpretation

The function of the engraved slate from Gönnersdorf has not yet been fully clarified. It is noticeable, however, that compared to cave art, the way in which it was found appears rather profane, less sacred, but rather everyday, although the motifs are very similar. Particularly with regard to the schematic depictions of women, there are parallels to sites in France ( Les Combarelles cave / Dordogne) via Great Britain (Cresswell Grags cave / Derbyshire) to Eastern Europe (Pekarna cave / Moravia / CZ).

See also

literature

  • Bosinski, G. and Fischer, G., 1974. The depictions of people from Gönnersdorf. Excavation 1968. The Magdalenian discovery site Gönnersdorf 1. Franz Steiner Verlag GmbH, Wiesbaden.
  • Bosinski, G. and Fischer, G., 1980. Mammoth and horse representations by Gönnersdorf. The Magdalenian find Gönnersdorf 5. Franz Steiner Verlag GmbH, Wiesbaden.
  • Bosinski, G., 2007. Gönnersdorf and Andernach Martinsberg. Late Ice Age settlement sites. Archeology on the Middle Rhine and Moselle 19. (H.-H. Wegner, ed.). Society for Archeology on the Middle Rhine and Moselle e. V., Koblenz.
  • Bosinski, G., 2008. Animal representations by Gönnersdorf. Supplements to the mammoth and horse as well as the other depictions of animals. Monographs of the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseums Volume 72 / The Magdalénien-Fundplatz Gönnersdorf 9. Verlag of the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseums, Mainz.
  • Bosinski, G. et al., 2001. The engraved depictions of women by Gönnersdorf. The Magdalenian site Gönnersdorf 8. Franz Steiner Verlag, Stuttgart.
  • Güth, A., 2008. A new investigation of the much-engraved slate 113 from Gönnersdorf. In: Bosinski, G., depictions of animals by Gönnersdorf. Supplements to the mammoth and horse as well as the other depictions of animals. Monographs of the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Volume 72 / The Magdalenian discovery site Gönnersdorf 9. Publishing house of the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum, Mainz.
  • Güth, A., 2010. Investigation of Upper Palaeolithic Art. Microscopic Analysis and 3-D-Scans of Engraved Slate Plaquettes from Gönnersdorf (Rhineland Germany). First Findings. In: Program for the 52nd annual meeting of the Hugo Obermaier Society (Leipzig 2010), 28–29.
  • Güth, A., 2011. New scientific findings confirming "The Oldest Representation of Childbirth". A 3D re-vision of an engraved slate plaquette from the Magdalenian site of Gönnersdorf (Neuwied / Rhineland). In: Program for the 53rd annual meeting of the Hugo Obermaier Society, (Herne 2011), pp. 20–21.
  • Güth, A., 2012. Using 3D Scanning in the investigation of Upper Palaeolithic engravings: first results of a pilot study. In: Journal of Archaeological Science 39 (2012) pp. 3105-3114. doi : 10.1016 / j.jas.2012.04.029
  • Moseler, F., 2008. The concentration IV of Gönnersdorf. A spatial analysis of the stone artifacts. In: M. Sensburg, F. Moseler: The concentrations IIb and IV of the Magdalenian discovery site Gönnersdorf (Middle Rhine). Monographs of the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseums 73. Mainz, Verlag des Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseums, pp. 55–168.
  • M. Sensburg, F. Moseler: The concentrations IIb and IV of the Magdalenian discovery site Gönnersdorf (Middle Rhine). Monographs of the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Volume 73, Verlag des Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseums, Mainz, 2008, ISBN 978-3-88467-120-7
  • M. Street et al., In press. Magdalenian settlement in the German Rhineland - An update. Quaternary International. Available online 21 March 2012. doi : 10.1016 / j.quaint.2012.03.024
  • M. Street, E. Turner: The Faunal Remains from Gönnersdorf. Monographs of the Roman-Germanic Central Museum. Volume 104, 2013, Verlag des Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseums, Mainz, 2013, ISBN 978-3-88467-200-6
  • Annual report 2010. Analysis of the symbolic symbols of Gönnersdorf. Publishing house of the Roman-Germanic Central Museum, Mainz, 2011 page 77, ISBN 978-3-88467-187-0

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ S. Gaudzinski-Windheuser / O. Jöris, Contextualizing the Female Image - Symbols for Common Ideas and Communal Identity in Upper Palaeolithic Societies. In: F. Wenban-Smith / F. Coward / R. Hosfield / M. Pope (Ed.), Settlement, Society, and Cognition in Human Evolution. Matt Pope. Cambridge University Press.
  2. ^ G. Bosinski (2007): Gönnersdorf and Andernach Martinsberg. Late Ice Age settlement sites. Archeology on the Middle Rhine and Moselle 19. (H.-H. Wegner, ed.). Society for Archeology on the Middle Rhine and Moselle e. V., Koblenz
  3. ↑ M. Street et al .: In press. Magdalenian settlement in the German Rhineland - An update. Quaternary International. Available online 21 March 2012. doi : 10.1016 / j.quaint.2012.03.024
  4. ↑ G. Bosinski: 1968–1976 and the settlement findings from the 1968 excavation. The Magdalenian discovery site Gönnersdorf 3. Franz Steiner Verlag GmbH, Wiesbaden
  5. ^ G. Bosinski (2007): Gönnersdorf and Andernach Martinsberg. Late Ice Age settlement sites. Archeology on the Middle Rhine and Moselle 19. (H.-H. Wegner, ed.). Society for Archeology on the Middle Rhine and Moselle e. V., Koblenz
  6. ^ F. Moseler (2008): The Concentration IV of Gönnersdorf. A spatial analysis of the stone artifacts. In: M. Sensburg, F. Moseler: The concentrations IIb and IV of the Magdalenian discovery site Gönnersdorf (Middle Rhine). Monographs of the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseums 73. Mainz, Verlag des Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseums, pp. 55–168.
  7. ^ A. Güth (2012): Using 3D Scanning in the investigation of Upper Palaeolithic engravings: first results of a pilot study. In: Journal of Archaeological Science 39 (2012) pp. 3105-3114. doi : 10.1016 / j.jas.2012.04.029 .
  8. ^ G. Bosinski (2007): Gönnersdorf and Andernach Martinsberg. Late Ice Age settlement sites. Archeology on the Middle Rhine and Moselle 19. (H.-H. Wegner, ed.). Society for Archeology on the Middle Rhine and Moselle e. V., Koblenz
  9. ^ G. Bosinski (2008): Animal representations from Gönnersdorf. Supplements to the mammoth and horse as well as the other depictions of animals. Monographs of the Roman-Germanic Central Museum. Volume 72 / The Magdalenian discovery site Gönnersdorf 9. Publishing house of the Roman-Germanic Central Museum, Mainz.
  10. ↑ G. Bosinski et al. (2001): The engraved depictions of women by Gönnersdorf. The Magdalenian site Gönnersdorf 8. Franz Steiner Verlag, Stuttgart.
  11. ↑ S. Gaudzinski-Windheuser / O. Jöris, Contextualizing the Female Image - Symbols for Common Ideas and Communal Identity in Upper Palaeolithic Societies. In: F. Wenban-Smith / F. Coward / R. Hosfield / M. Pope (Ed.), Settlement, Society, and Cognition in Human Evolution. Matt Pope. Cambridge University Press.
  12. ^ G. Bosinski, G. Fischer (1980): Mammoth and horse representations from Gönnersdorf. The Magdalenian find Gönnersdorf 5. Franz Steiner Verlag GmbH, Wiesbaden.
  13. ^ G. Bosinski (2008): Animal representations from Gönnersdorf. Supplements to the mammoth and horse as well as the other depictions of animals. Monographs of the Roman-Germanic Central Museum. Volume 72 / The Magdalenian discovery site Gönnersdorf 9. Publishing house of the Roman-Germanic Central Museum, Mainz.
  14. ^ G. Bosinski (2007): Gönnersdorf and Andernach Martinsberg. Late Ice Age settlement sites. Archeology on the Middle Rhine and Moselle 19. (H.-H. Wegner, ed.). Society for Archeology on the Middle Rhine and Moselle e. V., Koblenz.
  15. ^ G. Bosinski, G. Fischer (1974): The depictions of people from Gönnersdorf. Excavation 1968. The Magdalenian discovery site Gönnersdorf 1. Franz Steiner Verlag GmbH, Wiesbaden.
  16. ↑ G. Bosinski et al. (2001): The engraved depictions of women by Gönnersdorf. The Magdalenian site Gönnersdorf 8. Franz Steiner Verlag, Stuttgart.
  17. ^ G. Bosinski (2008): Animal representations from Gönnersdorf. Supplements to the mammoth and horse as well as the other depictions of animals. Monographs of the Roman-Germanic Central Museum. Volume 72 / The Magdalenian discovery site Gönnersdorf 9. Publishing house of the Roman-Germanic Central Museum, Mainz.
  18. ^ Annual report 2010. Analysis of the symbolic signs of Gönnersdorf. Publishing house of the Roman-Germanic Central Museum, Mainz, 2011 page 77 ISBN 978-3-88467-187-0
  19. ↑ A. Güth (2008): A new investigation of the much-engraved slate 113 from Gönnersdorf. In: G. Bosinski: Animal representations from Gönnersdorf. Supplements to the mammoth and horse as well as the other depictions of animals. Monographs of the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseums Volume 72 / The Magdalénien-Fundplatz Gönnersdorf 9. Verlag of the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseums, Mainz
  20. ^ G. Bosinski (2008): Animal representations from Gönnersdorf. Supplements to the mammoth and horse as well as the other depictions of animals. Monographs of the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseums Volume 72 / The Magdalénien-Fundplatz Gönnersdorf 9. Verlag of the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseums, Mainz.
  21. ^ G. Bosinski (2007): Gönnersdorf and Andernach Martinsberg. late ice age settlement sites. Archeology on the Middle Rhine and Moselle 19. (H.-H. Wegner, ed.). Society for Archeology on the Middle Rhine and Moselle e. V., Koblenz.
  22. ^ A. Güth (2012): Using 3D Scanning in the investigation of Upper Palaeolithic engravings: first results of a pilot study. In: Journal of Archaeological Science 39 (2012) pp. 3105-3114. doi : 10.1016 / j.jas.2012.04.029 .