[Aptrgangr]

The Celtic "Hunnenring" circular stone wall in Otzenhausen



- Introduction -

The folkloric name "Hunnenring" ("Circle of the Huns") designates one of the biggest fortifications of the Celtic world. The old designation "Hunnenring" suggests the possible existence of the Huns in this region. This interpretation has, however, been proved nonsensical.
The fortifications are situated on the edge of the Hunsrück Nature Park, on the "Dollberg" near Otzenhausen, 695m above sea level.
Explanations regarding its function vary from it being purely a refuge keep, via an oppidum (a townlike settlement), to a seat of power and rulership or aristocracy. Topographically, the "Hunnenring" lies at the southern extremity of the territory of the Celtic Treveri tribe.
In all probability constructed as early as the 5th/4th century B.C. (at the end of the Hallstatt culture) as a defence against the Germanic peoples, the fort experienced its heyday in the 2nd and 1st century B.C. (age of the Latène culture). In the 1st century B.C. it was abandoned for reasons as yet unknown.



The site is triangular in shape. It is divided into a main fort and an outer fort. From east to west it extends 460m, from north to south 647m. This results in an overall area of 18.5 hectares, making the "Hunnenring" one of the largest Celtic fortifications ever built. The stone walls are around 2500m long and are built from approximately 240,000 cubic metres of stones, which corresponds to the load of around 9000 railway trucks. The dimensions of the site are still very impressive today… 10 signposted vantage points lead you in a circular route to the most important points of the fort. Distance approximately 4 kilometres, some steep inclines. Walking shoes or boots are recommended.


- Geology -

Geologically, the Hunsrück Natural Park consists of strata of Devonian rock (approximately 405-350 million years ago). At that time, vast areas of what is now Central Europe lay in a sea basin, the so-called geosycline sea, which was an extension to the north of the present-day Mediterranean. In the middle of this Devonian basin lay the so-called Middle European Island. Sediment deposited on the island's north coasts. In the subsequent geological periods, these loose sands underwent changes. Through an increase in pressure and temperature resulting from the ever thicker overlying formations of younger strata and tectonic events such as folding (in the Lower Carboniferous approximately 350-325 million years) and shifts within the rock deposits, the Taunus quartzite emerged, which is impressively manifested here on the "Mannfelsen".



In the Tertiary Period (approximately 60 million years ago) new elevations gave rise to the principal characteristics of our present-day landscape relief of mountains and valleys. During the geological epoch of the Quaternary (1.5 million years until today), so-called sub-glacial lakes or moraines developed during the Würm Ice Age on the elevated plains of the Hunsrück hills over 330m above sea level. Through erosion or weathering processes such as abrasion, rubbing due to frost or temperature weathering, sub-glacial terrain broke loose from the rock face and deposited on the lower slopes (after 200m to the left, you can see remains of such a moraine). These stone deposits at the same time provided one of the main prerequisites for the building of such a vast fortification as the "Hunnenring", namely the construction material. It lay directly on the site, and only needed to be collected and as a result not specially mined in quarries.

- The gateway -

In the course of excavations in the years 1936-1939, the gateway with its adjoining walls was discovered.
The gateway was double-winged and 6m wide. Separated by the central post into two gates of 2.5m each, it comprised a separate entrance and exit. The wooden posts sunk into the holes of the gatepost were wedged with stones. A layer of gravel covered the ground and allowed passage even in wet weather.


The gateway was crowned by a wooden battlement. The slightly inset battlemented parapet and projecting wall constitute a construction resembling an outer bailey. With this, it was possible to fight against attackers from three sides at once.
Looking to the right, you can see the outer wall. It encircles the entire southern section of the site. Its significance is not known. Possibly it served as a barrier for livestock or it signalled an earlier and more extensive construction period…

- The spring -

Due to the impermeable Taunus quartzite, the water from the spring came to the surface relatively high up in the hills.
As recently as the 19th century it could still boast running water the whole year through. It flows into reservoirs. Under the wall, an outlet channels the surplus water to the outside.
The spring has a protective significance. In times of siege, there was plenty of water for men and the animals alike.


Apart from water supplies, it was also necessary to store food within the fortress. This would have consisted of various grains that were cultivated and harvested in the surrounding area. Typical varieties were husk barley, two-grained wheat, one-grained wheat, spelt, oats and common wheat. Furthermore, pulses such as lentils, peas and common vetch were cultivated. Added to this is livestock breeding. Swine (approximately 53%) and cattle (approximately 34%) were bred. Dogs as well as water fowl featured on the extended menu. By contrast, hunting played only a subordinate role.

- Early monument preservation and history -

The earliest known mention of the enclosure wall was recorded in the Grimburger Salbuch (geological register) of 1589; a first graphic representation of the enclosure walls from the feuilleton of the Gazette de Metz from 1836. In 1836, Count Villers von Burgesch drew up a petition addressed to the then Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm III. It contained the plea forbidding the inhabitants of Otzenhausen and the surrounding districts to carry off stones for use as building material. In reply, the then Prussian Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm IV paid a personal visit to the "Hunnenring" in 1837. This outcome of this visit protected the enclosure wall from destruction…



The depicted plan from the year 1883 testifies to the visit of the Crown Prince. It shows the inclusion of a so-called "royal lodge" situated to the north-east where the galleries over the enclosure wall intersect. To mark the occasion of the royal visit, the Crown Prince was received here and in his honour a tree - also recognisable on the plan - planted. On the occasion of this visit, the stairway over the north wall - which is still passable today - was built. The monuments of our history deserve special protection. That is why this entire site is classified as a historical monument.
Every stone that is removed from here destroys a small part of our common past! For that reason we ask you not to take away any objects or stones and to report any acts of destruction or pillage you may witness!




- Former excavation area -

The first unsystematic excavations on the site of the "Hunnenring" took place in 1883 in the vicinity of the spring and the main wall.
After that, more than 50 years passed before the first systematic investigations were carried out between 1936-39. Here, apart from the uncovering of the gatehouse and a - failed - excavation of the north wall, the excavators studied an extensive 3000 m² area in the region to the south of the present refuge.



Numerous holes from construction posts bear witness to a multi-stage settlement here in the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C.. The half-timbered houses served either as storehouses or living accommodation.



Finds of shards of ceramic objects, spinning whorls, iron slag, iron tools such as knives, axes, hammers, drills, a number of coins etc. provide an insight into the everyday life and craftsmanship skills of the inhabitants. Excavated sections suggest that a settlement in other parts of the interior area can also be assumed.







The entire excavation area covered only 3% of the total interior area. Thus, numerous important questions regarding the significance and function of the site, its date of origin, its settlement structure etc. remain unanswered. To answer these questions is the task of the current scientific excavations....

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Keltischer Ringwall Otzenhausen