Unterfinning ski jump
The Unterfinning ski jump ("castle") is located on a spur of the terrain above the Windach north of the Finningen part of the municipality Unterfinning (administrative community Windach ) in the Landsberg am Lech district in Upper Bavaria . The extensive earthworks of the scientifically largely undeveloped soil monument could go back to one of the numerous early medieval Hungarian fortifications in this area.
description
The two-part fortification system was built on an almost level slope above the steep western slope of the Windachleite. In the east, a deep Bachtobel protects the Burgplatz.
To the southeast, the main castle (approx. 215 × 140 meters) is preceded by a bailey. The arched rampart of this Vorwerk is measured from the bottom of the trench about two to two and a half meters high and ends in the west on the slope edge. About 60 meters north of the outer ramparts, a section rampart running almost in a straight line secures the plateau. The associated outer trench is about 1.5 to 2 meters deep. Inside, the main wall towers above the site by about one to one and a half meters. What is striking is the very good preservation of this fastening section, which is only cut through by a wood discharge path. The flat slope of the outer wall and the narrow wall crown, which was probably only reinforced by palisades , a thorn hedge or a fence, are also unusual .
Early medieval castle complexes are usually reinforced by elaborate slope ditches. The steep, up to 20 meters sloping slopes of the Burgplatz above the Windach made it necessary to relocate the trench that would otherwise run under the edge of the slope onto the castle plateau. The area of the main castle and the west side of the outer bailey are protected by an edge wall over the steep slopes, an inner ditch up to two meters deep and a main wall that rises only a little over the interior. The conception of the main castle is strongly reminiscent of the rectangular earthwork over Purk near Moorenweis , whose moat system is much more pronounced (ditch depths of up to 5 meters).
To the east, the rampart of the main castle widens in places to several meters wide berms that could have supported small forecourts.
The Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation lists the ground monument as an early medieval section fortification under the monument number D-1-7932-0015.
Time and purpose
The early medieval fortifications in the Augsburg and Landsberg areas are usually interpreted as the Hungarian fortifications of the 10th century. This classification is also plausible for the hill at Unterfinning. The well-developed and uniform, but in comparison to similar structures, relatively low earthworks of the ground monument indicate a rapid expansion of the fortification. The size and conception of the castle speak for the function as a protective castle for several surrounding village communities or as a troop meeting place. The hidden location at some distance from the next settlement could also point to the Hungarian period of the Wallburg.
However, the complex does not only seem to have been built against the cavalry attacks of the Magyar steppe warriors. The favorable topographical situation would actually only require a section fortification with a bailey. The rather modest dimensions of the main wall, which can only have fulfilled their function in connection with additional obstacles to approach, are particularly unusual.
The ring wall-like conception of the main castle would be considered to be useful in terms of defense, especially against foot troops. It is possible that the hill was built primarily as a reaction to one of the numerous regional conflicts that enabled the Hungarians and the Normans to launch promising attacks on the East Franconian territory. Such protective castles often overlay much older settlement areas or fortifications.
proof
Coordinates: 48 ° 2 ′ 37.5 ″ N , 11 ° 1 ′ 0.6 ″ E