Interdisciplinary investigations of a medieval chieftain's castle in the Frisian coastal area

• Applicant: Dr. Stefan Krabath
• Subject Area: Prehistory and World Archaeology ; Soil Sciences ; Medieval History ; Physical Geography
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 544659647

The aim of the project applied for here is to further investigate a castle site in Tengshausen, Ldkr. Friesland (Lower Saxony), which is well documented on the basis of historical records and already recorded within the framework of the previous project, using interdisciplinary methods. The former castle, located in Wangerland in the immediate vicinity of the coast, is the northernmost of these facilities in the study area. In the 14th century, the coast was threatened by violent storm surges and affected by severe land loss. In the Middle Ages, the Wangerland thus formed an extensive peninsula through the adjacent Harle Bay to the west and the Jade estuary to the east. At its northern tip and directly on an old line was the historically handed down residence of the Dure family in the 15th and 16th centuries. Even today, a nearly one meter high preserved Wurt of about 40 x 60 m size with remains of an old ditch system can be seen here. The Dure von Tengshausen family initially had a great reputation through close relations with the leading chieftain family of the Jeverland and also participated in piracy. The castle with its special location on the rugged coast and between two old creeks was therefore certainly not chosen by chance. The property has not been rebuilt since the destruction of the castle in the 16th century and therefore offers the best conditions for targeted research. On the basis of geomagnetic investigations already carried out, details of the above-ground no longer visible buildings and the fortification under the earth's surface could be detected. The existing historical and geophysical data form an optimal basis for the planned research. Geoinformation-based, geophysical, archaeological and pedological investigations are intended to provide information on the structure and function of this castle site as the property of the late medieval elite in Wangerland in its natural environment. At the same time, significant new insights into castle construction in the context of other coastal regions are to be expected.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants