The Preceding Phase -
A Hallstatt Period Farmstead

Overview of the Hallstatt period settlement feature. The preceding phase is marked with a pink background to the NNW of the map. Centre: the central manor farm complex with a fourfold, staggered system of palisades and moats. Green: Ground plans of buildings (more easily recognised in detailed plans).

In the north-west of the plan above, a rectangular structure can be recognised which is orientated north-north-west, south-south-east. It's walls are between 35 and 42 metres long (structure is on pink background). This could very well be a forerunner to the "manor farm" which was built over during the later construction of the central manor farm, at least at the edges. We cannot state the chronology of the complex any more precisely at present as finds from this area have not yet been viewed in detail.

Enkering: Section of the plan with an overview of features in the area of the previous phase buildings.

The complex is surrounded by a palisade ditch which is now only 10 -20 cm deep. This ditch has become so shallow in places that it is very difficult to discern. The ditch encircles the entire complex which comprises around 1600 square metres. It contains various building structures which may well have belonged to the manor farm's previous phase, especially if you consider their position in relation to the palisades. Unfortunately, a path runs straight across the middle of the complex which we have not yet been able to remove. This obscures the middle of the central structure from the earlier phase and thereby greatly reduces the clarity of the archaeological situation.

There are further, well preserved buildings to the South, North and North-East. Most of these are simple, single-roomed, six-post structures between 3 and 6 metres long.

Two post sections. Left: Post with a stone base illustrating the excellent state of preservation. The posts in Enkering reach down as far as 60 cm. The post pits have generally been very carefully constructed. The sides are near vertical and the bases are level.

The almost square, four-post structure to the North measures 2.15m by 2.5m and can perhaps be interpreted as a storage building. The building to the North-West is comparatively large, measuring 7m by 6.2 metres. This building was unfortunately immediately swamped with ground water during excavation and disappeared.

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