Hankenbostel equestrian grave
The equestrian grave of Hankenbostel was a cremation grave from the 2nd century . It was located about 1 km southeast of the town of Faßberg , on a hill near the bank of the Sothrieth stream . The grave was discovered in January 1900 when a sand pit was dug and sand was extracted here . At the time, the archaeological find was not recovered with the appropriate care. Later research by the then Provincial Museum (today Lower Saxony State Museum Hanover ) revealed that it was an urn grave . Six fist-sized stones and one larger stone, which was probably used as a grave lid, were found near the urn.
Based on the finds, it is assumed that a wealthy and influential man, perhaps an ancestor of the Germanic tribe of the Longobards , was buried here. His family probably belonged to the ruling class in this region.
A heather area in the immediate vicinity of the site, which is one of the sights of the Südheide Nature Park , was named "Ritterheide" .
Excavation finds
During the excavation, various finds that are now in the Lower Saxony State Museum were secured. It is partly an equipment for the afterlife. This includes weapons , such as an iron sword , a spearhead , two lance tips and a knife . In addition, a shield boss , iron scissors , the bottom part of a saucepan , some small appliances and a grindstone , as well as the fitting of a drinking horn and a ladle . In addition to the urn, some elements of traditional costume , such as a knee-shaped bent garment needle (fibula) , a ring fibula, a silver belt buckle and two rider spurs were discovered. The spurs found gave the grave its name " Reitergrab ".
- Excavation finds
Riding spurs
Roman bronze dishes
Silver belt buckle
ladle
Iron scissors
Lance tip
20 cavalry graves ( Danish Ryttergraven ) were also found on the Cimbrian Peninsula (Fregerslev; Grimstrup) and in Torgård in Norway. One of the most distinctive graves of Norway's Viking Age is the grave of a rider. The Gjermundbugraven (also Gjermundbufunnet) by Ringerike in Buskerud . It is rich in equipment, but made world famous for the helmet and the ring fountain that was in the grave. This is the only helmet and the only ring fountain in the Viking Age.
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Coordinates: 52 ° 53 ′ 10.2 " N , 10 ° 10 ′ 28.7" E