New archaeological research on the surroundings of the medieval Palatinate and Monastery at Memleben

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Memleben-Nord. The site with a view of the church floor plan from the east. | Quelle: Robert Prust | Copyright: State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt | Download

Unique in Europe: archaeological research in and around Memleben
Archaeological fieldschools and research excavations have been taking place regularly on the site of the former monastery in Memleben since 2017. In addition, the landscape around the site has been the focus of a large-scale research project by the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt (LDA) for several years. As part of this, early medieval castles and settlements near Wangen and Wendelstein were examined and systematic surveys and geophysical investigations were carried out. The LDA conducts a research project to understand a central Ottonian site in its spatial setting that is so far unique in Europe. The aim of the project is not only to identify and research the Palatinate itself, but also to gain a deeper insight into the complex infrastructure of such a center of power, which not only included the Palatinate with the Palatium, an assembly hall and the Palatine Church, but also fortified settlements or castles, possibly market towns as well settlements providing supplies and services. Last but not least, a Palatinate also required a large agricultural hinterland as a basis for the support of the traveling ruler, his retinue and his guests.

A newly discovered fortified settlement with medieval stone buildings
During the field surveys of recent years, a fortified settlement was discovered a good 1.2 kilometers north of today's Memleben beyond the Unstrut, which was currently under excavation. Work took place from April 2nd to May 2nd, 2024 under the direction of Prof. Dr. Felix Biermann. Geophysical prospections and the excavation provide remarkable insights into this previously completely unknown site, of which nothing can be seen above ground in the farmland.
A rectangular densely populated area of about 240 by 170 meters was surrounded by a rampart and ditch. Gates in the north and west were probably reinforced with stone buildings. The current archaeological excavations focus on an area to the west of the fortifications, where the impressive relics of two large stone buildings have been preserved.
A 16 meter long, single-nave medieval church with a semicircular apse in the east and a cellar extension in the west that had stairs as an access was discovered. The church replaced an older, smaller sacred building that was only around 8 meters long. Next to the building was a densely populated cemetery. The graves often show the head niches and stone sarcophagi characteristic of the 10th to 12th centuries. At a right angle to the church, a large stone residential building measuring at least 17 by 6.5 meters was found. It had very strong walls and underwent several renovations and additions over the course of its history. In the late Middle Ages, metalworkers used the ruins as workspace leaving behind a number of ovens. The settlement in the area around the stone buildings is evidenced by a pit house and various settlement pits.
The rich finds date from the 9th/10th century to the 14th century. In addition to Slavic wave-decorated ceramics and a cross enamel disk brooch from the Ottonian period, the spherical pots typical of the high and late Middle Ages, bronze knife sheath fittings, projectiles from crossbow bolts, medieval silver coins, a Gothic key and a late medieval pilgrim sign depicting a crowned ruler can be highlighted.

Assessment and outlook
Current research has revealed a significant settlement with impressive fortifications, a dense residential area, evidence of craft production and two notable stone buildings. The results already add important insights to the overall picture of the micro-region around Memleben, even if various questions cannot yet be conclusively clarified and remain to be answered by subsequent evaluation of the discvoveries and further field research. Of particular importance is the scientific dating of the sample material taken, from which a precise chronological classification of the stone buildings and thus a more precise contextualization in terms of settlement and cultural history can be expected. It is of great importance to clarify the relationship of the site to the Ottonian predecessor building of the monumental church of Otto II, which was found in the area of the monastery last year. The same applies to a possible identification of the settlement with one of the places that are attested in written sources and were abandoned in the late Middle Ages (Wenigen-) Memleben and Odesfurt (Ottofurt). Both are already mentioned in the Hersfeld Tithe Register of the 9th century. The Memleben settlement (estate or heir of a person named Mimo), located north of the Unstrut and designated in the late Middle Ages with the suffix 'Klein-' or 'Wenigen-', is repeatedly interpreted as the nucleus of the early medieval settlement center and is also considered a possible location of the Ottonian settlement Palatinate. A Andreaskirche (St. Andrew's Church) is mentioned in Odesfurt in 1179. In both places later estates (grangien) of the Memleben and Pforta (Schulpforte) monasteries existed.
The current research results illustrate the importance of the new site and add important insights to the knowledge of the cultural and political landscape around Memleben.

Historical background
Even today, the remains of the former Memleben monastery are a reminder that the town at the Unstrut is one of the most important historical sites in what is now the state of Saxony-Anhalt. Memleben went down in history as the Palatinate and place of death of the East Franconian King Heinrich I (died in 936) and his son and successor, the Roman-German Emperor Otto the Great (died in 973). The emperor's internal organs were buried in St. Mary's Church (Marienkirche) in Memleben before his body was transported to Magdeburg. The historical buildings preserved in today's Memleben go back to an imperial monastery that Emperor Otto II and his wife, Empress Theophanu, founded shortly before 979 in memory of his father. Despite the extraordinary historical significance of the place, the location of the actual Palatinate has not yet been identified with certainty and has been a subject of research for over a century. The current studies make a valuable contribution to solving these and other research questions surrounding the important site on the Unstrut.