Ludwig Zapf
Ludwig Zapf (born December 16, 1829 in Münchberg ; † August 25, 1904 ) was a local researcher of the 19th century. He was also mayor and publisher of Münchberg , owner and editor of the Münchberger Amts- und Wochenblatt .
Local history research
In 1845 he took over the editing of the Münchberger Wochenblatt founded by his father . He later became town clerk in Münchberg. He was the author of many prehistoric , local history , native historical and ethnological treatises, essays and contributions in prose and verse , mostly with his Fichtelgebirgshalle home address, (eg. Sagas of the Fichtelgebirge , 1873; Waldstein Book , 1886; Fichtelgebirgshalle album , 1892). He gained notoriety and esteem beyond his homeland. He also promoted the establishment of a city archive in Münchberg (the first directory of files comes from him). In 1871 he became a corresponding member of the international anthropological congresses in Budapest and in 1880 in Lisbon .
His biggest mistake: the Wendish hill fort on the Waldstein
Ludwig Zapf misjudged the Ostburg on the Großer Waldstein , which was later extensively researched by Karl Dietel, as a Wendish rampart . The central argument was a large boulder with notches, which he interpreted as a place of sacrifice . The notch-like grooves are said to have been used to drain blood. They later turned out to be a natural consequence of weathering. The other walls and rocks worked by human hands could be assigned to the Middle Ages. Individual finds point to people present on the Waldstein long before the Middle Ages, but not from the time assumed by Ludwig Zapf. A permanent settlement is rather unlikely. The inhospitable Fichtelgebirge is likely to have been a long passage area, with old streets connecting important trading centers.
Site plan of the alleged Wendish rampart as a book illustration by Ludwig Zapf
Alleged sacrificial stone, but the notches are of natural origin
Honors
- Since 1893 he has been an honorary citizen of the city of Münchberg.
- In the 1920s, a street in Münchberg was named after him.
Works by Ludwig Zapf (selection)
- as editor: The legendary circle of the Fichtelgebirge. Myth and History. Birkner, Münchberg 1873, ( digitized version ).
- Waldstein Book. Nature, history and legends of the Großer Waldstein in the Fichtelgebirge. Lion, Court 1886.
- Fichtelgebirgs album. Images of nature, culture and history; a review of the Fichtelgebirge literature. Lion, Court 1892.
- Articles in the archive for the history of Upper Franconia .
Web links
- Literature by and about Ludwig Zapf in the catalog of the German National Library
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Zapf, Ludwig |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Local history explorer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 16, 1829 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Münchberg |
| DATE OF DEATH | August 25, 1904 |
| Place of death | Münchberg |