Desertification in the Papenteich

The deserted villages in Papenteich incurred as well as the still existing villages on the plateau of the Papenteich between the 7th and 11th centuries. The time of the fall of the desert is probably between the 14th and 15th centuries for most of the desertions .

Settlement phases

see main article: Papenteich

The Papenteich was first settled in prehistoric times along the rivers on the edge of the Papenteich. The settlements of this time often only existed for a comparatively few years. Neither are any names transmitted. The settlement, which corresponds to today's settlement structure of the Papenteich, probably did not begin until the 6th to 8th centuries. In addition to various places on the rivers, there was a settlement group in the center of the Papenteich with Meine , Rethen , Stapel (wüst) and Vordorf .

The next wave of settlements in the 9th century encompassed the raw and lousy towns. What is striking here is a group of places that later fell into desolation along the former border between the Diocese of Halberstadt and the Diocese of Hildesheim. The most famous settlement group in the Papenteich is likely to be the -büttel places. The place name broadcast –büttel is only widespread in northern Germany with the greatest concentration in the Papenteich. The date of origin of the -büttel places is controversial. With the emergence of the Horst Orte around the year 1000, the settlement of the Papenteich was largely complete.

Desert phases

When determining the time of the desertification of the villages in the Papenteich, only approximate times can be given. An approximate time can usually only be given by dating the finds at the former locations. Another possibility is an extensive list of places from 1489. The investigation and the comprehensive localization of desertions in the Papenteich and the entire Gifhorn district was carried out in the 1950s by Gerhard Oberbeck. On the basis of his work, most of the localities can be assumed to have fallen into desolation during the 14th and 15th centuries. It is not clear whether there is a direct connection with the plague epidemics during this period. It is known, however, that the Great Plague Pandemic of 1349/50 raged in the Braunschweig area and hit the Papenteich particularly hard.

Local devastation

Algesbüttel

The place was about 1,900 m north of Rethen and was first mentioned in 1022 as Aldagesbutile . The settlement consisted of seven courtyards and a church, which later sank. The last mention is in 1480 as a Lüneburg loan. Today the area is used as a field and bears the field names "Kirchhof", "Gänsewiese" and "Kerkenkuhle". The painting "In the Rethener Acker (Algesbüttel)" by the painter Otto Hänssgen shows the arable land of the desert after the Second World War.

Arsnbüttel

The place was about 800 m southwest of Adenbüttel . Archaeological finds date from the 13th to 14th centuries.

Asenrode

Asenrode is also known as Asenroth or Ossenrode. The place was about 2,500 m north of Vordorf and was first mentioned in 1112 in border maps. Assenrode was a border town between the dioceses of Halberstadt and Hildesheim according to the Halberstadt border description. The settlement comprised four courtyards. Archaeological finds date from the 12th to 14th centuries.

Aukenrode

The place was about 750 m north of Ribbesbüttel . Aukenrode was a border town between the dioceses of Halberstadt and Hildesheim according to the Halberstadt border description.

Badenbüttel

The place was about 850 m southwest of Vollbüttel and was first mentioned in 1231 as Badenbutle .

Batjenrode

The place was about 850 m northeast of Ribbesbüttel and was first mentioned in 1265 as Betkenrode . The place was a border town between the dioceses of Halberstadt and Hildesheim according to the Halberstadt border description.

Biscopeshusen

The place was about 1,250 m southeast of Ohnhorst and was first mentioned in 1022.

Bökenrode

Bökenrode is also known as Bockenrode . The place was about 1,300 m northwest of Hillerse and was first mentioned in 1266 as Bockesrodhe . The last mention is made in 1563, the fall of the desert is believed to be at the end of the 16th century. The old maps of Hillerse show the field name "Bocker-Feld" north of the village. This succeeded in localizing the desert.

Bramhorst

The place was about 900 m north of Lagesbüttel and was first mentioned in 1007 as Brenhorst . The last mention is made in 1316, the fall of the desert is believed to be at the end of the 14th century.

Brunsel

The place was about 700 m southeast of Leiferde and was first mentioned in 1182 as Bunsele . The last mention is made in 1394, the fall of the desert is presumed at the latest by the end of the 15th century.

Dudanroth

The place was about 2,500 m northeast of Rethen, near the parcel "Auf der Burg" and was first mentioned around the year 1000. The time of the fall of the desert is unknown, but is classified before the 15th century. The place was a border town between the dioceses of Halberstadt and Hildesheim according to the Halberstadt border description.

Eilersbüttel

The place was about 550 m northeast of Harxbüttel near today's Frickenmühle and was first mentioned in 1200 as Eilersbuttle . The last mention was made in 1380, the fall of the desert is believed to be in the 15th century at the latest.

Engerode

The place was about 1,750 m northeast of Grassel near the parcel "Engeroders Feld" and was first mentioned in 1115 as Egganrothe . The fall of the desert is believed to be in the 15th century at the latest.

Grapendorf

The place was about 300 m west of Bechtsbüttel near the parcel "Im Grependorpe" and was first mentioned in 1112 as Gripendorp . The desert fall is believed to have occurred at the end of the 14th century.

Harmbüttel

The place was about 1,700 m west of Leiferde near the parcels "Harmbüttler Feld" and "Harmbüttler Holz" and was first mentioned in 1284 as Herminisbutle. The last mention takes place in 1378, the desert fall is assumed towards the end of the 15th century.

Hegersdorf

The place was in the Schuntertal , about 2,000 m north of Hondelage near the parcel "Krummer Morgen", and was first mentioned in 1400 as Herminisbutle . The last mention takes place in 1510, the fall of the desert took place between 1510 and 1553.

Ilkenrode

The place was about 1,300 m west of Sülfeld near the parcels "Jielker Feld" and was first mentioned in 1311 as Ikenrode . The last mention was made between 1344 and 1365.

Laubhagen

The place was about 1,000 m northeast of Klein Brunsrode . The place was not mentioned in documents, but its existence has been passed down orally. Archaeological finds date from the 13th and 14th centuries. These findings confirmed the place and its presumed location.

Lüttgen Bevenrode

The place was about 800 m south of Grassel near the parcels of "Bevenröder Feld" and included five courtyards. The place was first mentioned in 1311 in the Halberstadt feudal register as "Minori Beuenrode". The last mention takes place in 1564, the fall of the desert took place at an unknown time after the last mention.

Lüttgen Wendhausen

The place was in the Schuntertal, about 1,700 m north of Wendhausen , and was first mentioned in 1311 as Minori Wenthusen . The last mention takes place in 1347, the desert fall is assumed towards the end of the 14th century. The fields belonging to the place cannot be separated exactly from the Hegersdorfer fields.

Martinsbüttel

The Martinsbüttel desert lies at the site of today's Gut Martinsbüttel , about 2 km northeast of Wedelheine . Martinsbüttel was first mentioned in 1292 under the name Mertensbutle . The last mention was made around 1383, after which the place was probably desolate in the 15th century. It was later repopulated. Today there is the Martinsbüttel estate there.

Meginsnichegibutle

The existence of this village site is not certain and is based on the one hand on broken fragments and on the other hand on the naming in a document from the year 1007. The place is possibly about 1,000 m south of Rethen and would then have probably fallen desolate towards the end of the 14th century.

North village

The place was about 600 m northeast of Waggum , near the parcel "Norden-Dorf-Kamp". Archaeological finds date from the 12th to 15th centuries, from which the existence of the place can be derived despite the lack of documents. In a village listing in 1489, the place is no longer mentioned.

Odbrechthinerothe

The place was about 100 m northwest of Ehmen . The place was first mentioned in 1160. Archaeological finds date from the 12th to 14th centuries, the desertification probably took place at the beginning of the 15th century.

Oetjersrode

The place was about 1,500 m west of Essenrode near the parcels "Oetjersrode" and "Am Meiner Weg" and included four courtyards. Archaeological finds date from the 13th and 14th centuries, the fall of the desert probably took place at the beginning of the 15th century.

Ossenrode

see Asenrode

Rabenrode

The place was about 600 m southeast of Waggum near the parcels "Kötneracker" and "Rabenröder Teich". The place was first mentioned in 1215, the last mention was made in 1318. Archaeological finds date from the 13th and 15th centuries, the desertification probably took place at the beginning of the 15th century.

Sinesrode

see Zinsrode

Smelke

The place was about 1,500 m north of Meine near the parcel “Im Schmelze”. The place was mentioned in 1007. Archaeological finds date from the 12th and 13th centuries, but some finds are dated well before the 12th century. The fall of the desert probably took place in the middle to the end of the 13th century. According to some researchers, Smelke's foundation was possibly related to the local group Meine, Rethen, Vordorf on a cleared island in the old northern forest. A foundation in the context of the Saxon Wars would also be possible.

stack

Stack is also known as stacking . The place was about 1,600 m southeast of Meine near the parcels “Der Stapel” and several “Stabel -...” corridors. The place was first mentioned in 1226 as Stapenleghe , the last mention was made in 1439. Archaeological finds date from the 12th and 13th centuries, but some finds are also dated before the 12th century. The fall of the desert probably took place in the middle of the 15th century. The term “stabel” appeared several times on old maps. Thus, and based on numerous fragments found, the desert could be localized. Together with Meine, Rethen and Vordorf, Stapel formed a group of settlements in the center of the Papenteich. Stack was probably built together with the other places during the Saxon Wars.

Scathorst

The place was in the Schuntertal about 1,250 m west of Hondelage near the parcel "Schachthorst". The place was first mentioned in 1215, the last mention in 1311. Archaeological finds date from the 13th and 14th centuries, the desertification probably took place at the beginning of the 14th century.

Volcwardissen

The place was about 900 m north of Groß Schwülper . The place was first mentioned around 1200, the last mention was made around 1380. Archaeological finds date from the 14th and 15th centuries, but some finds are dated well before the 13th century. The fall of the desert probably took place during the 15th century.

Wemeresbutle

Wemersbutle is also known as Warmbüttel . The Warmbüttel desert lies at the site of today's Warmbüttel forestry. Warmbüttel was first mentioned around 1226 under the name Wemeresbutle . The last mention was made around 1379, the year the desert fell. It was later repopulated. Today the place Warmbüttel is located there .

Werckesbuttle

Werckesbuttle is also known as Warxbüttel . The Warxbüttel desert is located on the site of today's Gut Warxbüttel , about southwest of Adenbüttel . Warxbüttel was first mentioned around 1338 under the name Werckesbuttle . The last mention was made around 1418, after which the place was probably desolate in the 15th century. It was later repopulated. Today the Warxbüttel estate is located there.

Reversible bag

Wendenbutle is also known as Wendenbüttel . The place was about 1,500 m west of Eickhorst near the parcel "Wenderberg". The place was first mentioned in 1007, the last mention in 1341. Archaeological finds date from the 10th to 14th centuries. The fall of the desert probably took place at the end of the 14th century.

Wendenrode

The place was about 750 m south of Lagesbüttel near the parcel "Im Hesterhope". The place was first mentioned in 1007 as Winanroth , the last mention was in 1392. Archaeological finds date from the 12th to 14th centuries. The fall of the desert probably took place at the end of the 14th century.

Wierthe

The place was about 1,400 m south of Hillerse near the parcel "Am Rolfsbüttler Feld". The place was first mentioned around 1316, the last mentioning took place between 1344 and 1365. Archaeological finds mostly date from the 11th to 15th centuries, some finds, possibly of Saxon origin, are also dated to or before the 10th century. The desert fall probably took place in the 15th century.

Zinsrode

The place was about 800 m northwest of Vordorf between today's places Vordorf and Rethen near the parcels "Sundern" and "In the large Zinsrode". The place was mentioned in 1022. Archaeological finds date from before 1100 to the 15th century, the fall of the desert probably took place at the end of the 15th century. The place was located in the middle of the 19th century, but not excavated. Numerous stones still occupy the surface. In addition, pieces of metal and pottery shards with decorations have already been found. The place was a border town between the dioceses of Halberstadt and Hildesheim according to the Halberstadt border description.

literature

• Gerhard Oberbeck: The medieval cultural landscape of the area around Gifhorn (= publications of the Lower Saxony office for regional planning and statistics. Research on regional and folklore. Nature, economy, settlement and planning 66 = publications of the economic society for the study of Lower Saxony. NF 66). Dorn, Bremen-Horn 1957.
• Wolfgang Meibeyer: Settlement history about the Papenteich and the question of its -büttel-places. The settlement of the old northern forest between Gifhorn and Braunschweig during the early Middle Ages (= series of publications of the district of Gifhorn. No. 22). 2nd expanded and rewritten edition. District of Gifhorn and Museum and Heimatverein Gifhorn e. V., Gifhorn 2004, ISBN 3-929632-70-5 .

swell

1. ^ Bevenroder history ( Memento from August 2, 2003 in the Internet Archive )
2. ^ Carl Brandt: Schwülper. A piece of Lower Saxony's local history. Self-published, Hildesheim 1912.
3. ^ Gerhard Oberbeck: The medieval cultural landscape of the area around Gifhorn. (1957).
4. ^ Gerhard Oberbeck: The medieval cultural landscape of the area around Gifhorn. (1957), p. 86.