Monument Bamberg Cathedral. Evaluation of the archaeological excavations in and around the Bamberg Cathedral – reconstruction of the previous buildings

• Applicant: Dr. Nelo Lohwasser
• Subject Area: Prehistory and World Archaeology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 458642174

The Bamberg Cathedral is one of the most important cathedrals in Germany. Its importance in the history of art, complemented by the archaeological significance of Walter Sages excavations, was certainly one of the main aspects of the entire old town of Bamberg to receive the status of UNESCO World Heritage.The Cathedral, built by Emperor Henry II on the site of the former castle chapel of the Babenbergs and consecrated in 1021, burnt down in 1081; so did the next one built by Bishop Otto the Holy in 1185. The present church, consecrated in 1237, has been exhaustively researched along with its later modifications and inventory in terms of the building and art history.But the Bamberg Cathedral as an archaeological monument is a different story. Archaeological excavations were conducted for the last one hundred years, including the whole nave, large areas of the side aisles and the west crypt. However the results are only found in preliminary reports and the finds have only been partly published. A coherent study of features and finds is completely missing to date.Excavations by Walter Sage 1968-1972, supplemented by excavations around the west crypt and a few important investigations beyond the cathedral present the main source of the archaeological site. Based on a synthesis of archaeological finds and archaeological as well architectural structures, clear sketches of the interior fittings of each building phase can be created, concerning the floors, walls and movable fittings. As the stratigraphy within the cathedral includes early medieval layers, the excavation provide important insights into regional ceramic chronology from the 7th/8th to the 13th century.Another central issue are the burials associated with the castle chapel, inhabitants of the former Babenburg castle, dating to the 9th and 10th centuries. Anthropological studies and classification with regard to their pathological features in conjunction with the archaeological results offer a tangible insight into the little researched social structure of the period. The theoretical evaluation will in a practical application be supplemented by analyses of the many mortar samples from the excavation, as well as REM-investigations on glass sherds.Well analysed evaluation results enable reliable and clear reconstructions, especially with regard to the design of the interior, and thereby to its classification into the landscape of Central European cathedrals. A richly illustrated publication, which builds on modern examinations and presentations, also available as a digital post-print, will flesh out the missing research component in the Bamberg Cathedral and will be an enormous gain for sacral archaeology.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants