This document summarizes 4 years of archaeological investigations in Albersdorf, Germany as part of a major research project. It describes 3 phases of innovation in the early Neolithic period in the region: 1) the construction of non-megalithic long barrows as burial grounds, 2) the erection of a causewayed enclosure influenced by central European cultures, and 3) a megalithic phase involving conversion of barrows to megalithic tombs that spread across the landscape between 4000-3650 BC. Key findings include the long-term use of the causewayed enclosure over 1200 years and evidence of cultural influences from other Neolithic groups.

1. 4 Jahre Forschungen im Albersdorfer Raum im
Rahmen eines Großprojekts
4 years of archeological investigations in
Albersdorf in the scope of a major project
Hauke Dibbern

2. Das DFG Schwerpunktprogramm 1400:
„Frühe Monumentalität und soziale Differenzierung -
Zur Entstehung und Entwicklung neolithischer Großbauten und erster
komplexer Gesellschaften im nördlichen Mitteleuropa“
“Early Monumentality and social Differentiation -
On the origin and development of neolithic large-scale buildings and the
emergence of early complex societies in Northern Central Europe”

3. Das DFG Schwerpunktprogramm 1400

4. Position of the micro regions
„Büdelsdorf/Borgstedt“ and
„Albersdorf“ in relation to other
micro regions of the SPP.
„Monumentale Grabenwerke, nichtmegalithische und megalithische Grabbauten des
Früh- und Mittelneolithikums in Schleswig-Holstein“
„Monumental enclosures, non-megalithic and megalithic tombs of the Early and
Middle Neolithic in Schleswig-Holstein“

7. Albersdorf LA56: Digital elevation model of the long barrow LA 56 with marked
excavation trenches, view from south.
Albersdorf LA56: Southeastern part of the long
barrow during the excavation.Burial site „Bredenhoop“ south of
Albersdorf. Red circle: Long barrow LA 56.

8. Albersdorf LA56: Cross section at the southeastern end of the long barrow with palaeo-soil, different neolithic embankments as well as
modern disturbances on both ends of the section.
Radiocarbondates of the non-megalithic phase of
long barrow LA 56.

9. Distribution of long barrows
in the western part of
Schleswig-Holstein.
Region
Albersdorf

10. Albersdorf-Dieksknöll: Aerial Photograph of the causewayed enclosure
(Photo: Volker Arnold).
The causewayed enclosure
Albersdorf-Dieksknöll southwest of
Albersdorf.
Calibrated 14C-Date from a sample out of one of
earliest ditch refillings.

11. Features of the enclosure‘s
„fortification“ (ditch
segments, transversal pit and
palisade trench.
Floor plans and longitudinal section of the
eastern ditch segment.
Floor plan and longitudinal section of the
transversal pit.
Distribution of enclosures with constructive elements within ditch gaps
(incomplete).

12. Ornamentated clay disc from
the bottom of one of the ditch
segments.
Distribution of clay discs of the same type than from Albersdorf-
Dieksknöll.

13. Impression of Triticum durum in the
same clay disc.
Ornamentated clay disc from
the bottom of one of the ditch
segments.

14. Some pottery and a grinding stone fragment deposited in ditch segments of the causwayed enclosure Albersdorf-Dieksknöll.
Western ditch segment Eastern ditch segment

15. Sequence of calibrated 14C-dates from different ditch layers of the
causewayed enclosure Albersdorf-Dieksknöll.
Chronologic model of usage phases of the causewayed enclosure. Blue = calibrated 14C-
data, red = distance between the several phases.

16. - Early errection in comparison to other
TRB-enclosures
- Long-term use of about 1200 years
- Activities are mainly limited to the
ditch areas
- Significant dicline of events after about
3400 cal BC
- No changes in the character of
activities over the whole time of use
- evidence of cultural influences from
Young Neolithic cultures of Central
Europe (Michelsberg)
Reconstruction of the causewayed enclosure Albersdorf-
Dieksknöll at its early phase based on geophysical surveys
and excavated features (drawing: Susanne Beyer).

17. Albersdorf LA56: Digital elevation model of the long barrow LA 56 with marked
excavation trenches, view from south.
Albersdorf LA56: Remains of the stone
pavement on the floor of the megalithic
chamber.
Albersdorf LA56: Ground level of the
megalithic chamber. Blue = paved chamber
floor, green = stone foundation pits, orange =
Young Neolithic pit, brown = disturbed area.

18. Polygonal dolmen „Brutkamp“, view from East.
Digital elevation
Model of the megalithic tomb
„Brutkamp“, excavation trench marked.
Calibrated 14C-date marking the builing
time of the megalithic tomb.

19. Varying distribution patterns of different grave types in the Albersdorf region.

20. Pottery, Flint, Amber and stone finds from megalithic tombs in Albersdorf from the
Early, Middle and Late Neolithic period.

21. 3 phases of innovation in the Early Neolithic period in the
Albersdorf region:
- Errection of non-megalithic long
barrows as burial grounds for seperate
settlement areas
- Errection of a causewayed enclosure
influenced by ideas from the central
european Young Neolithic
- Megalithic phase: conversion of non-
megalithic barrows and errection of
megalithic tombs spreading through
the landscape
4000 – 3800 cal BC
Around 3700 cal BC
Around 3650 cal BC