Background Büraburg

wotanstein in gudensberg

hessia, seventh century on, served buffer between areas dominated saxons (to north) , franks brought area south under control in sixth century , occupied thuringia (to east) in 531.

by 650, franks establishing overlords, suggested archeological evidence of burials, , building fortifications in various places including christenberg. 690 taking direct control on hessia, apparently counteract expansion saxons, built fortifications in gaulskopf , eresburg across river diemel, northern boundary of hessia. büraburg (which had frankish settlement in sixth century) 1 of places franks fortified in order resist saxon pressure, , according john-henry clay büraburg largest man-made construction seen in hessia @ least 7 hundred years . walls , trenches totaling 1 kilometer in length made, , enclosed 8 hectares of spur offered commanding view on fritzlar , densely populated heart of hessia . presence of mounted garrison deduced archeological finds, including spurs, harness fittings, , fragments of weapons.

during saxon wars of charlemagne, important fortified base of franks, final submission of saxons in 804 lost military significance.

religion

the area around fritzlar shows evidence of significant pagan belief first century on. geismar particular focus of such activity; continuously occupied roman period on, settlement roman period, had predecessor fifth century bc. excavations have produced horse burial , bronze artifacts. possible religious cult may have centered on natural spring in geismar, called heilgenbron; name geismar (possibly energetic pool ) may derived spring. village of maden, gudensberg (de), part of gudensberg near fritzlar , less ten miles geismar, ancient religious center: basalt outcrop of gudensberg named wodan, , there two-meter tall quartz megalith called wotanstein in center of village.

büraburg contained christian settlement before boniface. st. brigida church dated time of hiberno-scottish mission joseph vonderau, fulda archeologist excavated büraburg in 1920s. according wand, church must have been founded later; states served frankish fortress construction dated c. 690. though 1 scholar considers wand s later dating correct , there no reason assume church named st. brigid, recent scholarship suggests perhaps vonderau correct in assuming hiberno-scottish background. instance, after renovations 2002-2006, pieces of wood found in chancel arch dated between mid-sixth century , 667/668. may mean church predates mission of saint kilian, may have preached in area in 680s , killed in thuringia in 689—or may mean older wood used construct church. wand s excavations (1969-1996) revealed monastic complex oldest layer contains cistern lined stone; 1 of stones featured inscription of benedictine cross. complex have housed abbot 6 monks. excavations have shown traces of @ least sixty buildings (not same time period).

john-henry clay considers church indeed hiberno-scottish , dates earliest fortification, using wood nearby building. connection between kilian , boniface not unique; in wurzburg boniface promoted kilian s cult, , may have used cistern in büraburg baptismal font, continuing missionary work started before came area.