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Case Study

Mesolithic Hut

Mesolithic Hut

Name of the building in the museum in English: Mesolithic Hut

Name of the building in local language (as used in the museum): Mittelsteinzeitliche Hütte

Local Language: German 

Type of building: 
Reconstruction (a new building, based on either historical or archaeological sources but without using original substance) 

Museum where the building is presently located:
Steinzeitpark Dithmarschen (DE)

 

Please select extra information below:

The original building or its remains: Source and Inhabitants

Source Material

Name of the location: Hartmannsdorf 26 | See Google Map below

Address: A 10 (Motorway), crossing A 12 | Spreenhagen - Hartmannsdorf. D - 15528 | Germany

Organisation responsible for in situ excavation: 
Brandenburgisches Landesmuseum, Brandenburg | Germany | Website

Name of the person responsible for the excavation: Stefan Wenzel

Role of the person documenting: Archaeologist

When the excavation took place: 1997

Source(s): Relevant academic literature (2.25 MB) | Plan of the camp
Stefan Wenzel, 2009, Behausungen im Späten Jungpaläolithikum und im Mesolithikum in Nord-, mittel- und Westeuropa. Monographien des Römosch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums, Bd. 81. Mainz. | Mesolithic Hut /Hartmannsdorf 26: pages 103 – 117.

52.34956, 13.83073

Time and Inhabitants

The historical /archaeological time period of the original building is: 
Mesolithic

The original building date / date of first construction of the building is: 
6000 BC

Cultural group is known as:
Kongemose Culture

Is the information about the original building's owners / users / inhabitants known? 
No

About the original building

The original building was: 
Part of a settlement

If part of a settlement, what is the original building's environment: 
Household / homestead

What was the name of the household?
Unknown

What was the location of the original building within the household?
Unknown

The original function of the (original) building was: 
Residential

If the original building was residential, the primary type was:
Workers house

Has the building's function of use changed through its history? 
No

The building in the museum: Basic facts and Construction process

The importance

The reason to present this building in the museum is:
The building is a prime example of the historical characteristics of its time, The building is a prime example of the architectural characteristics, The building is of technological interest

Please explain the unique historical characteristics:
In mesolithic Times the building of semi-permanent hut structures with light weighing materials were typical.

Please explain the unique architectural characteristics:
Building Tradition of using light weighing natural materials from the region to construct (mostly) round hut structures

Please explain the specific technological interest:
The building technique with wattle walls and reed roofs.

The reconstructed building was build on the site of the archaeological feature:
No

A plan or aerial photo of the building's location within the museum

The location in the museum

Registration number / name / inventory number of the building: Meso 1

Location in the museum: In the area of the mesolithic hut settlement (open-air area)

The building in the museum is: Part of a household

The household is:  A reconstruction of the original household 

The name given to the household by the museum is: Mesolithische Siedlung

The current location of the building within the household is: On the edge of a small lake

Mesolithische Siedlung

Documentation of the Construction Process

Is the organisation constructing / rebuilding the building in the museum a RETOLD partner:
Yes

Name of the organisation conducting the construction / rebuilding:
Steinzeitpark Dithmarschen (DE)

Name of the person responsible for construction:
Werner Pfeifer

Role of the person within the organisation:
Educator

Process 1: Production of Stone Age Glue types, also for construction purposes | Relevant literature (63.54 kb)
Werner Pfeifer, Marco Claußen, 2015, Experiments on Possible Stone Age Glue Types, EXARC Journal 2025/04, available online: https://exarc.net/ark:/88735/10222 [Last accessed: 8 August 2024]

Significant diversion

Is there a significant diversion in the construction from the original: 
No

Are materials, techniques or tools diverging from historical/archaeological accuracy?
No