Deserted church near Asche

Exposed remains of the former church building

When Wüstungskirche in ashes it was one in the Middle Ages incurred church in ashes in the district of Northeim in southern Lower Saxony . As far as we know so far (2016), the church belonged to a previously undiscovered settlement that fell in desolation . Archaeological investigations on the remains of the church and the surrounding area were carried out by the Asche / Fehrlingsen history association between 2015 and 2017 .

description

Foundation walls of the west tower

The remains of the church building are located in a wooded area on the elevation of the Kirchberg about 800 meters south of the Ascher district of Fehrlingsen. According to the findings so far (2016), the church building was probably erected at the end of the 12th century, but had at least one later construction phase. It consisted of a church tower and a nave with a choir . The dimensions of the building are 6 × 17 meters. In the wider area, the church was enclosed by a wall. The walls of the church building have been preserved in the ground up to almost two meters in height at one point, as the walking horizon on the mountain side of the building was about 1.80 meters below the forest floor before the excavations began. Human teeth and toe bones, which were found during the excavations, speak for the presence of a churchyard at the church.

The desert to which the church belonged has not yet been located. In the spring of 2016, students at the Department of Prehistory and Protohistory at the University of Göttingen took geomagnetic measurements to find them . They take place with a magnetometer on arable land below the Kirchberg. The desolation belonging to the church could be the town of Jürgensborg , which was mentioned in a document in 1449 , but this is not certain.

Discovery and excavation

Choir room

During explorations, a geologist made of ashes on the wooded Kirchberg, the name of which indicates the presence of a church, came across a site with remains of a wall. To uncover the site, he founded the Asche / Fehrlingsen history association in 2015 . Members of the association carried out the first excavation in 2015 in coordination with the district archaeologist of the Northeim district, Petra Lönne and with the support of archaeologists from an excavation company . They uncovered the remains of the church wall. The location of the altar was recognized on a building wall within the choir . Found combat stones can be dated to the first third of the 13th century.

The excavations continued in 2016 and 2017. In addition to the church, the presumed churchyard and site findings that are interpreted as house pedestals were also examined. The finds in the area of the church include a medieval pair of scissors and other metal finds, such as hatchets, knives, hoes and several crossbow bolts . Individual finds, such as ceramic pieces, date from the 13th century.

The association expects excavations over several years. After completion, the historic masonry will be covered with earth again to secure it. It is planned to make the former church visible again and to hold church services and to set up an information board at the excavation site.