Träleborg
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The Träleborg (also called Möhebergs Fornborg ) is a Stone Age hill castle ( Swedish Fornborg ), in the municipality of Falköping in Bohuslän in Sweden . The similarity of the name with the later Viking castles Trelleborg in Denmark and the Trelleborg near the municipality of Trelleborg in southern Sweden is striking . The prefix is more common (also as a place name) in Denmark ( Trælborg ), Norway and Sweden.
With 200,000 m², Träleborg is a smaller castle of this type compared to Hallebergs fornborg in Västergötland , Grogarnsberget and Torsburg (both on Gotland ). Its circumference is about 1150 meters. It was excavated in the mid-1980s.
description
The complex is bordered on three sides by a wall 1–16 m wide, 0.2–2.0 m high and 770 m long. Traces of post holes in the wall are interpreted as posts of a palisade . The west side, where the cliff drops about 80 m deep, is without structural elements and has no palisade traces. Most of the approximately 5,000 m³ stones come from the foot of the mountain. Along several flat sections with a total length of 420 m there are double walls, the distance between which varies between 5.0 and 18.0 meters. They are in the access area. The plateau was supplied with water from four pits in which rainwater or meltwater collected.
Dating
In 1933 Einar Magnusson (1891–1977) surveyed the Träleborg. A partial excavation took place in 1985/86. Gold treasures from the Iron Age have been found around Träleborg ( Ållebergskragen and Timboholmsschatz ). Hence, it was expected that the castle was built around this time. However, the C14 analysis showed that the castle was built around 2800 BC. Was built.
In 1985 only the Neolithic earthworks of Sarup in Denmark were known from Northern Europe . Therefore, one was skeptical about this dating. Several new finds and dates of earthworks of the funnel cup culture put the whole thing into perspective. The Virkelsborg outside Vara was dated to the Early Bronze Age, so that such structures have been in use for a long time. Remnants of Stone Age settlements and the large number of Stone Age graves at Hornborgasjön and in Falbygden make it possible that the end neolithic farmers built the Träleborg.
use
There are several theories about how the systems work. Although the buildings suggest a defensive structure, this is difficult to secure given the size. Therefore, the Fornborgar are compared with Slavic castles , which, like the later medieval cities, were protected dwelling places and religious centers. The function as a refuge is also considered for some, but it should be a uniform reason for use.
In the north-west of Finland there are similar castle structures, which are called Jätinkirkko (German giant churches ) and which also date from the Stone Age .
See also
Web links
- Träleborg - entry in the database "Fornsök" des Riksantikvarieämbetet (Swedish)
- Description Swedish and pictures
Coordinates: 58 ° 12 ′ 45 " N , 13 ° 28 ′ 47.1" E