Added August 20, 2000. Updated  April 11, 2006, 12:37 – 5 GMT.

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Version 1.12

Hinkelstein

By

Maximilian O. Baldia

(Copy Right © 2001 – April 11, 2006. All rights reserved)

Introduction

The purpose of this text is to provide a general overview of the culture and is intended as a resource for students and teachers of European Archaeology.

Chronology

By about 5000/4900 cal. BC the first farming culture of Central and parts of Northern Europe (Map 1), known as the Bandkeramik or Linerar Pottery culture (Early LBK and Later LBK) lost its relatively uniform characteristics. Hinkelstein was first seen as part of the Later LBK. Later it was thought that Zeliezovice replaced the LBK in the east and Hinkelstein replaced it in the west. Thus, by 1999 the Hinkelstein group or culture is dated to 5000-4850 cal. BC and thought to overlap or to be replaced by Großgartach (Grossgartach) (Chronological Table). However, the C¹⁴ dates from the cemetery of Trebur, Germany, suggest dating issues and Stöckli (2002) dates Hinkelstein to 4825-4775 cal. BC. He suggests that Großgartach follows it.

The Type Site

The Hinkelstein[1] site is located in Monsheim, Rheinhessen, west of the Rhein (Rhine) River in Germany. The town is, just south of Mainz and west of Worms.

Burials
The Hinkelstein cemeteries of Mohnsheim-Hinkelstein, Worms-Rheingewann, and Rheindürkheim were first excavated in the 19^th century by L. Lindenschmit and C. Koehl. The burial pits are oriented Southeast-Northwest. These early excavations yielded 150 graves. The dead were interred on their backs in extended position, head in the Southeast. This differs from most Neolithic cultures in Central Europe. The interred were graced with local fossil shells and boar’s tusks. Imported spondyllus shells are also recorded, as they are from the preceding LBK. Hinkelstein and Großgartach can occur in the same cemetery. At Trebur, Hinkelstein graves are virtually surrounded by Großgartach burials.

Stone Tools
Stone tools include small, high Schuhleistenkeile (shoelast axes), apparently used for woodworking, and triangular arrowheads.

Pottery

The pottery from the burials was often made of coarse clay. The form of the bowls is derived from the Bandkeramik. Beakers with straight walls and a foot at the base show a similarity to the ill dated Stichbandkeramik (Stroke-Ornamented Pottery) to the east. When decoration occurs, it often takes the form of triangles, filled with lines. Complicated geometric designs are also known. Most designs are incised and filled with a white paste. “Finger” impressions occur only occasionally. Some researchers divide the pottery into two phases.

Houses and Settlement
Little is known about Hinkelstein settlements. No house structures are available. The discovery of a village was recently reported from Wiesbaden-Kloppenheim (Rheinische Zeitung. Ausgabe Mainz, Nov. 17, 1999). The excavation results may shed new light on this culture of the Middle Rhein.

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References

Stöckli, Werner E.

2002 Absolute und relative Chronologie des Früh- und Mittelneolithikums in Westdeutschland (Rheinland und Rhein-Main-Gebiet). Baseler Hefte zur Archäologe 1. Archäologie Verlag, Basel.

Please send comments or questions to Max Baldia.

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[1] The name Hinkelstein is curious. It is a local term for menhir. A menhir is a Keltic (Celtic) term from Brittany in northern France. It refers to a megalithic (large) stone, also called standing stone. Solitary menhirs are frequently found in the State of Rheinhessen. However, they were erected after the demise of Hinkelstein and probably date to the Michelsberg culture of the later Neolithic.