Münchshöfen, Wallerfing, Polling

Version 2..0

Maximilian O. Baldia

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.

List of Figures

Central and North German Chronological Table

Graph of Münchshöfen C¹⁴ dates

List of Tables

Table of Münchshöfen calibrated radiocarbon dates

Location

The type site Münchshöfen is located near Straubing in Eastern Bavaria, Germany.

Dating

Münchshöfen dates from about 4300 cal BC to perhaps 3800 cal BC (Chronological Table, Table of Münchshöfen radiocarbon dates, Graph of C14 dates. The dates for Polling have been judged as to too late.[1] However, their 95.4% probability range of these two dates and other late Epi-Lengyel dates can be used to argue for an end, no later than 3800 cal BC.

Evolution

Münchshöfen seems to be related to the Lengyel. It is preceded and perhaps overlaped by Rössen, the Bavarian Oberlauterbach Group, and Großgartach (Grossgartach). A connection with Jordanów (Jordanov, Jordansmühl) in Bohemia, Czech Republic, is stipulated. Münchshöfen.

After about 4200 cal. BC Classic Münchshöfen is followed by the Wallerfing and Polling phases, The pottery is similar to Late Lengyel from the neighboring countries to the east, including the Czech Republic and Austria.

Pottery

Most Münchshöfen pottery is similar to that of Bohemia’s Lengyel. These in include conical bowls, with inward-bend decorated rims. Shouldered pots have flat bottoms. Further more, Polling has small cups with handles, decorated in stab and drag technique (German: Furchenstichtechnik). For illustrations see Tillman 1998 Fig. 4.

Enclosures

Münchshöfen enclosures are round. Round to oval enclosures are typical for Lengyel.

By Bergheim, Lkr. Neuburg-Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, such an earthwork was discovered in 1994. The fabric and design of a small cup from the ditch near the 3 m wide entrance suggests a link to contemporary Jordanów of in Bohemia.

At Riekofen, Lkr. Regensburg, Bavaria, another circular earthwork has been attributed to the Polling phase.

Houses

No houses are known. It is suggested that this is due to the use of surface structures, such as blockhouses, which leave no trace below the soil surface.

Copper

The first use of copper in Bavaria is recorded during this time.

References and Credits

Fritsch, B., Margot Moute, Irenäus Matuschik, Johannes Müller und Claus Wolf (Eds.)

1998 Tradition und Innovation: Prähistorische Archäologie als historische Wissenschaft. Festschrift für Christian Strahm. Internationale Archäologie 3, VML 1998, Leidorf GMBH, Rahden, Germany (1997).

Matuschik, Irenäus

1992 Senkofen-„Pfatterbreite“, eine Fundstelle der Michelsberger Kultur im östlichen Alpenvorland. Bayrische Vorgeschichtsblätter, 57:1-32. Beck’sche Verlagshandlung, München.

Meixner, Daniel, K.H. Rieder, A. Wegener-Hüssen, J. Weinig, G. Welker, K. Scheuerer

2001 Böhmische Keramik in Bayern, Bergheim, Lkrs. Neuburg-Schrobenhausen: Entdeckungen und neue Funde aus der Region Ingolstadt. Archäologie Aktuell 28, February 2001

Raetzel-Fabian, Dirk

1986 Phasenkartierung des mitteleuropäischen Neolithikums: Chronologie und Chorologie. B.A.R. International Series 316, 1986.

Tillmann, Andreas

1998 Riekofen: Doppelkreisgrabenanlage der Pollinger Kultur. Archäologie in Bayern. (Accessed 1998).

Please send comments or questions to Max Baldia.