Propylaeum

Many recent publications have dealt with medieval town squares as public spaces and stages to assert political power, and as “theatres” of ritual and social interaction. This volume comprises 16 presentations held at a conference in Zurich in 2017.
Researchers have, at times, lost sight of the genesis and materiality of public squares in the towns and cities concerned. Rarely have they asked when, where and by whom were the squares created; what components were used to demarcate them; how were they accessed; how were the surfaces reinforced; and how did their physical appearance change over the centuries?
The theme of the conference was the public square as a physical component of the fabric of a medieval town or city. Individual towns and cities were looked at as separate units of study whose undeveloped areas were then compared in terms of their genesis and how they functioned within the urbanistic context. It goes without saying that both archaeological contexts and historical sources were consulted.

A listed monument since 1962, the ruined castle at Hünenberg is one of the most important monuments of medieval cultural history in Canton Zug. The castle was built as early as 1100. Elaborately worked building blocks, colourfully painted exterior render and precious objects suggest that those who built it were members of the high nobility. The castle was later acquired by the Lords of Hünenberg, who over the course of the 13^th and 14^th centuries advanced their position to become one of the leading families of the minor nobility in the region. The most recent archaeological excavations, mounted over several short periods between 2005 and 2010, were the first to take advantage of modern scientific methods to examine a medieval castle site. The results of the analyses yielded surprising new insight into the castle’s history of construction and the lives of its former inhabitants.

At Altreu, a hamlet in the municipality of Seuzach on the River Aare, it was its proximity to the river that caused the archaeological substance to disappear. Since 1949, partial features of a settlement have come to light in numerous construction pits. The publication has assembled these sections to form an overall picture, which is of great importance, both for medieval research in Canton Solothurn and for the archaeology of the Middle Ages in the whole of Switzerland. Thanks to the fact that much has been preserved in a coherent overall picture that elsewhere has to be painstakingly reconstructed from isolated fragments, the study provides invaluable insight into what life was like in a small medieval town. With fortification walls, a citadel and residential buildings facing onto the alleyways, Altreu had all the elements typically associated with a medieval town. Following a conflagration in the second half of the 14th century, the town was abandoned and subsequently forgotten. A considerable legacy, however, has survived in the ground: more than 20,000 artefacts were retrieved and are presented in an extensive catalogue sorted by category.

The 2016 conference in Spiez gave an insight into the current state of castle research and highlighted aspects of social and cultural history as well as the history of power. The proceedings begin with an introduction to the topic of medieval aristocracy and castle construction (Thomas Biller). This is followed by studies of the castles of the Zähringen dynasty (Heinz Krieg) and in the former diocese of Geneva (Matthieu de la Corbière), a case study of Colombier Castle in Canton Neuchâtel (Ferdinand Pajor) and an overview of early castle construction in what is today Swiss territory (Armand Baeriswyl). Special attention is then devoted to the Habsburg fortified border after 1499 (Peter Niederhäuser). A chronological trajectory from the Middle Ages to the present is drawn by papers on castle construction (Jürg Schweizer) and the castle revival (Elisabeth Crettaz) as well as a study of how castles are used today (Thomas Pauli-Gabi). The publication also contained short monographs and illustrations of 25 Swiss castles that are important from the point of view of both research history and castle typology.

Die archäologischen Spuren auf dem Burghügel von Kastelen reichen weit in die Prähistorie zurück: Bereits in der Bronzezeit vor 3000 Jahren bestand auf dem Kastelenhügel eine dörfliche Siedlung. Im Hochmittelalter wurde der markante Hügel zum Standort einer hölzernen Burganlage. An ihrer Stelle liessen die Grafen von Kyburg zwischen 1249 und 1253 eine ausgedehnte Burg errichten, von welcher heute noch die Ruine des Wohnturms sowie der Sodbrunnen erhalten sind. Der beeindruckende Wohnturm ist ein beredter Zeuge der hochstehenden mittelalterlichen Bautechnik. Zusammen mit den archäologischen Funden lässt die Ruine einen unmittelbaren Einblick in die Wohnkultur und das Leben auf einer mittelalterlichen Adelsburg zu.

Die historischen Schriftquellen zur Burg Kastelen erzählen von der geschichtlichen Entwicklung der gesamten Region: Sie zeigen nicht nur den gesellschaftlichen Wandel in der herrschenden Oberschicht während des Mittelalters und der Neuzeit, sondern werfen auch ein Schlaglicht auf die sozialen Verhältnisse beispielsweise zur Zeit des Bauernkriegs von 1653.

Weitere Kapitel sind den bautechnischen und denkmalpflegerischen Aspekten einer Burgenrestaurierung gewidmet. Abgerundet wird die Publikation durch eine Untersuchung zu den Sagenerzählungen rund um die Ruine Kastelen.

The Alpine pastures in the Oberhasli region in the eastern Bernese Oberland have been used for centuries to summer livestock and to make cheese. The remains of dry-stone walls from derelict buildings that were left to decay are often still visible in the landscape. Some 400 newly discovered features, which were recorded during large-scale surveys in the region attest to a variety of constructions used in the Alpine economy. This publication discusses these and assesses them in the context of the regional history of Alpine economic activity. Drawing on archaeological, historical and ethnographic sources, another question explored is how remains of typical Alpine economic activities such as dairying, livestock grazing and haymaking can be detected in the archaeological record. An extensive catalogue of texts and images allows readers to compare deserted Alpine buildings and settlements beyond the Bernese Oberland.

The specific character of the Obere Hauptgasse in Thun is shaped by its unusual cross section. Ground floors known as raised pavements, arcades or terraces jutting out on both sides form a row of two-storey shops. Whether this was planned, or whether it resulted from the construction type or just by coincidence, the background of this streetscape that stands out from the otherwise anonymous urban development has never before been investigated in detail, despite its quaintness and originality. The question is whether the phenomenon of the double access was a very early example of this type of architecture, a consequence of a later development or even a product of urban planning.
Due to the fragmentary nature of the architectural contexts and an incomplete evidentiary background, it has not yet been possible to firmly establish the origins of Thun’s raised pavements. While the investigation uncovered evidence to suggest that the street gradient had been altered, it was not possible to provide irrefutable proof of this. Even the date proposed for the initial construction of the raised pavements in the 16th/17th centuries seems rather vague. What is certain, however, is that today’s homogenous appearance is in fact based on complex causes and decisions.

The ruins of Marmels Castle are located some one hundred metres above the Marmorera reservoir, below a massive ledge (municipality of Marmorera situated in the Oberhalbstein/Sursés Valley in Canton Grisons). In the High and Late Middle Ages, the castle was in the hands of the Lords of Marmels, who were ministerials of the Bishop of Chur. The complex at this dizzy height once included a chapel with two adjacent buildings, a gateway building and a representative residential tower with at least four storeys.
As part of a comprehensive restoration of the castle ruins the Archaeological Services of Canton Grisons were able to carry out architectural surveying of the preserved building remains and excavations in the grounds in 1987 and 1988. An excavation being carried out in castle grounds is a rare occurrence in Canton Grisons. However, it was actually the findings from the excavations that were of particular significance for Swiss castle research.
Thanks to the location of the castle beneath a massive ledge, large parts of the complex had at all times been protected from the elements – a stroke of luck for researchers, since the finds were deposited in mostly dry conditions over the centuries. Apart from their large number, the variety and state of preservation of the finds was also extraordinary. Particularly the organic finds, which in medieval excavations usually only occur in small numbers, were numerous in Marmels: some 1,000 fragments of wood including utensils, furniture parts, architectural timbers and building waste were found in the excavated layers. Other finds included leather fragments and shoes, remnants of parchment, some of which bore writing, more than 21,000 animal bones and 18,000 individual plant remains. Besides the organic finds, the excavations also unearthed metal implements and innumerable fragments of slag, which attested to the production and working of metal, some pottery shards and a large assemblage of steatite vessels. Various wooden objects (architectural timbers and implements) yielded absolute dates by dendrochronological means.
This allowed us to date the construction of the castle to 1140 and its abandonment to the late 14^th or early 15^th century. Certain events from the castle’s history could also be dated using this method.

During its 800-year existence, Zug Castle went through many changes. Construction of a large section of the architectural complex still in existence today began in the 12^th century. Built originally as a manorial seat, it evolved into a residence in the Late Middle Ages and eventually became an historical museum in the 20^th century.
Between 1967 and 1982, archaeological excavations took place in the castle grounds and an extensive architectural survey of the building itself was also carried out. Post-excavation work painted a surprisingly detailed picture of this extraordinary building, the importance of which radiated beyond the boundaries of Canton Zug. The main themes of the publication include the results from the excavations and architectural surveys as well as the archaeological finds recovered. Other topics are the restoration of the building and the exhibition concept of the “Museum at the Castle”.

To mark the 800^th anniversary of the first mention in historical records of Winterthur in 1180, the Historical Society of Winterthur held a conference on the founders of Winterthur, the Counts of Kyburg, accompanied by a small exhibition. The aim was to link the history of the locality with that of the region and beyond and, in doing so, to pay tribute to the dynasty, bearing in mind the current state of historical research and putting it in an overall context. As a consequence, the idea behind the publication was far-reaching.
The first part deals with the history of the family and its reign, studies the Dillingen roots in Swabia and Switzerland (Heinz Bühler and Adolf Layer) and critically assesses the way in which the family used their power (Roger Sablonier). The second presents the counts’ church endowments (Alfred Häberle), castles (Werner Meyer) and city foundations (Karl Keller). The third and final part is dedicated to the 1180 “town charter” of Winterthur (Ferdinand Elsener), the coins (Dietrich Schwarz) and the heraldry (Hans Kläui). The volume ends with a report on the excavations carried out at Mörsburg Castle (Jakob Obrecht), one of the counts’ residences near Winterthur.

It is very often the smaller and less spectacular evidence of human activity that gives us the best insight into the everyday lives of people from long-forgotten eras – insight that cannot be gained by studying written sources or works of art. This book uses pottery, the most important and abundant finds category, as the main source in an attempt to retrace the history of the hearth and stove. To do this, the author has recorded and analysed the mostly unpublished finds from almost one hundred excavations carried out at castles and other medieval sites. Based on these finds and features, he has been able to reconstruct the development of the hearth and stove.

The excavation and renovation of the castle ruins of “Altburg”, the ancestral seat of the Barons of Regensberg near Zurich, were carried out on behalf of the Department of Public Works of Canton Zurich in close cooperation with the Swiss National Museum. The project provided a unique opportunity to study and document an early castle complex of great historical importance. The castle itself is located on a morainic hill, which was fortified by the Barons of Regensberg at the end of the 11^th century. The fortifications were extended around 1200 under the Barons of Regensberg and during the 14^th century under the lords of Landenberg. In 1460 the complex was modernised by Rudolf Mötteli, but this was met with opposition from the city of Zurich, which ultimately took it over and let it fall into ruin.
The publication links the history of owners with the history of construction, paying most attention to the Barons of Regensberg, followed by a detailed presentation of the excavated features. The four main phases from the high to the late Middle Ages are presented separately, with an illustrated catalogue containing several hundred objects, divided into different categories, which include stove tiles, pots and other ceramic vessels, iron, coins, non-ferrous metal as well as bone.

This volume contains the proceedings from a conference on castle studies held in Basel in 1977 to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the founding of the Schweizerischer Burgenverein. Looking back over half a century of the association’s existence, which has a good reputation in academic circles both here and abroad, the conference programme was intentionally wide-ranging. The contributions from various researchers in Switzerland and abroad point to the diversity of medieval defensive structures in terms of form, function and materials. The six presentations share an important leitmotif in current medieval research: interlinking archaeological features with historical contexts. The volume contains two Swiss papers; Hugo Schneider’s paper on Letzi walls (defensive barriers or boundary markers) in the Alpine region puts the spotlight on the founding period of the Old Swiss Confederacy, while Werner Mayer attempts to make an archaeological contribution to the medieval history of settlement by examining the links between castle construction, the rise of political power and forest clearance rights. Using lowland castles in the Rhineland as an example, Walter Janssen sheds light on the transition between timber construction and stone architecture in the High Middle Ages and examines the social status of individual noble lineages based on the differences in the construction of their castles. Similarly, Jacques Renaud uses 13^th/14^th century brick-built castles in the Netherlands to present the history of Dutch feudalism. Based on the geographic locations and types of construction of timber-built Slavic castles in north-western Germany, Karl Struve examines the social structure of the Slavic tribes. Olaf Olsen’s paper on concentric castles in Denmark provides an insight into the military and political organisation of Danish kingship at the time of the Vikings.

Dieser Band enthält Berichte über Ausgrabungen und architektonische Untersuchungen auf der Burg Fracsteingrotte in Seewis/Prättigau bei Landquart und der Burgruine Schiedberg in Sagogn/Sagens. Er enthält auch zahlreiche Fotografien und Zeichnungen.

The fortifications of Bellinzona are some of the most outstanding medieval defences in Switzerland. Throughout history, various forces have fought to gain ownership of the site. The marching sound of Roman legionaries was soon replaced by the cacophony of Germanic and Rhaetian hordes, before the various rulers of Italy took turns in fighting off foreign invaders. It was not until around 1500 when Bellinzona came into the ownership of the Old Swiss Confederacy that the situation became less volatile, and the fortifications gradually lost their military use.

This report does not claim to offer a complete history of the Castel Grande site, as the excavations and architectural study were limited to the south wing of the castle due to construction activities. The archaeological investigations yielded evidence of several phases of construction dating from the 4^th to 11^th centuries, while the examination of the walls identified elements dating from the first half of the 13^th century up to the end of the 15^th century. The small finds suggest that the hilltop was settled in prehistoric periods and attest to human presence from the Augustan period to the present. The high medieval finds clearly show influences from the northern foothills of the Alps (stove tiles) and from Italy (majolica). From the 13^th century onwards, there was a significantly greater Lombard-Italian influence, which reached its highpoint in the 15^th century, with regard to both the artefacts and the architectural design of the fortifications.

The Scheiddegg castle ruins lie on a wooded ridge, away from the busy flow of traffic high above the municipality of Tecknau in the upper reaches of the Ergolz Valley. Under the leadership of the Archaeology Department of Canton Basel-Landschaft, the ruin was examined in 1970–74. Based on the identifiable small finds, the construction of the castle can be dated to between 1220 and 1230. It was destroyed by a (naturally occurring) conflagration around 1320, as attested to by both a massive layer of burnt rubble and an assemblage of finds from every area of the castle inhabitants’ lives. A remarkable discovery was the skeletal remains of seven horses, which probably succumbed to the flames. From an architectural perspective, the castle’s most striking features were a large residential tower, which was reinforced by a round pillar at each corner, and a castle courtyard with a substantial filter cistern.

In 1966/67, the ruins of Alt-Wartburg above Olten were cleared of rubble and archaeologically examined. One of the interesting aspects from a research point of view is a terminus ante quem for the castle’s destruction, which is mentioned several times in records for the year 1415. Finds and features suggest that the settlement was founded in the 11th century. The preserved walls date from the 12th century, followed by a phase of expansion in the second half of the 13th century; further structural alterations were carried out in the 14th century. In 1415, the castle was seized, pillaged and destroyed by fire during the conquest of the Aargau region by the Bernese. The spectrum of finds does not show the entire range of household goods typically found at a medieval castle site, since items that could easily be carried off were probably looted in 1415. This makes the series of stove tiles found all the more impressive, ranging from unglazed beaker tiles to vessel tiles and medallion tiles as well as accessories such as cornice tiles and upper cornice tiles. But even here the rampaging of the conquerors was evident: hardly any of the medallions were completely preserved, and most were smashed. The detailed presentation of the archaeological context is followed by a chapter on the history of ownership and political power.