Bent, blunted and smashed: archaeologists have discovered military objects on the Wallburg Wilzenberg in the Sauerland, which were probably destroyed there around 2000 years ago as part of ritual acts. The experts say it was probably the weapons of previously defeated enemies.
It is also known as the “Holy Mountain of the Sauerland”: The Wilzenberg is a popular excursion destination and place of pilgrimage on the edge of the Rothaar Mountains in the east of North Rhine-Westphalia. There is a pilgrimage chapel from 1633, as well as the Wilzenberg tower from 1891 and a 28 meter high cross. It is also known that the mountain had an important meaning for people over 2000 years ago: On the top of the mountain there are several structures that are still visible, which were the remains of a system made of wood, stone and earth . It is believed that this so-called hill fort was built between 300 BC. And Christ’s birth enthroned on the mountain.
As reported by the Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe (LWL), two iron swords and four lance tips were discovered on the Wilzenberg as early as 1950, and they were in an unusual condition: the swords were badly bent – as if they were rolled up – and the tips also showed clear signs of damage . The new complex find now shows that these were not isolated cases. There are a total of around 40 points of spears and lances, fragments of shield bosses and parts of horse harness as well as tools. They were discovered in the past three years through inspections with the metal detector in the area of the Wallburg auf Wilzenberg, reports the LWL.
Cultic acts are emerging
Many of these finds are partly badly deformed and damaged. “This damage was clearly not caused during a fight, and consequently the Wilzenberg is not a slaughterhouse either,” says LWL archaeologist Manuel Zeiler. As he and his colleagues report, however, it is becoming apparent that the metal objects were deliberately destroyed. The characteristics of the find area and the shallow depth also show that they were not buried, but rather sedimented over the centuries and thus ended up in the superficial soil.
“According to current research, it is conceivable that a fight took place in the area around Wilzenberg and that the winners completed their triumph by bringing the captured weapons, belts and harnesses to the Wallburg,” says Zeiler. There they then blunted or bent the blades of the lance and spear tips, broke the iron bosses and then simply left the objects lying around. These assumptions are based on finds in France, which indicate that the ritual destruction of the weapons of inferior opponents in Iron Age Europe was common especially in the Celtic culture and on its periphery. However, since the weapons from Wilzenberg cannot be precisely dated, it is not clear whether weapons were repeatedly damaged and laid down there over the centuries or whether the finds represent the remains of a single event.
Precision bridle for a chariot
In addition to the references to the ritual destruction of weapons, the archaeologists also particularly highlight one find from the new collection: It is part of a very rare type of horse snaffle. The existing handle parts were apparently used to guide a horse and the bit allowed the animal to be steered very precisely and directly. The experts therefore suspect that this type of bit was used on horses that were pulling a chariot. They could therefore have given a warrior particularly good control over the draft animal in the bustle of battle.
In conclusion, the LWL archaeologist Michael Baales says about the importance of the complex find on the Wilzenberg: “This armory is the largest of its kind in North Rhine-Westphalia, connects the Sauerland with complex developments in Iron Age Europe and also illuminates the cultic actions of Iron Age warriors after a military one won Confrontation ”, the archaeologist sums up the various aspects of this archaeological discovery.