Rhine Canyon

Rhine Canyon Archaeology: Scientists Find Opposing Fortresses

March 31, 2007 24:32:34 PM

(Basel, Switzerland) -- March 30, 2007. Dutch, Swiss, and German archaeologists have unraveled a mystery that has perplexed the Rhine archaeology community for over 100 years. The ruins of two ancient fortresses, each carbon-dated to periods several thousand years before the rise of the Roman empire, have been conclusively shown to have arisen about the same time.

"This discovery conclusively proves that European civilization and culture are far more ancient than has been presupposed until now," says Dr. Ernst Voorst of the Rhine Archaeology Institute. "We have excavated the ancient ruins and found artifacts that reveal a most interesting story," he adds, enthusiastically pointing to a map of the Rhine valley.

Thousands of years ago, according to traditional European historians, people lived in scattered hunter-gatherer tribes. Farming arrived in the Rhine Valley many centuries after it had taken root in the Mediterranean basin. But now study of the two ancient fortresses reveals that two neighboring cultures had solved the food problem in unique ways.

The west-bank culture, according to Dr. Reinhard van Gelder from the Royal Museum of Antiquities in Amsterdam, sustained itself largely from the fruits of trees grown in orchards. "It is a most fascinating society," he gushes. "I have never seen the like. They appear to have eaten little meat, perhaps only occasional game that strayed into their forests. We have even found evidence that some members of the West-bank culture dwelt in tree houses."

The east-bank culture, on the other hand, kept herds of cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. There is even some disagreement among scientists whether small equine bones indicate that horses were kept penned near the dark tower on the bald hill overlooking the Rhine's east bank. "The eastern fortress is not nearly as well maintained as the western fortress," Dr. Voorst points out. His team handled the excavations of the east fortress. "I believe the fortress was rebuilt more than once, like ancient Troy."

Signs of war have been found on both sides. Many skeletons have been excavated in mass graves on each side of the river. "The culture on the west bank were taller, perhaps the tallest people of ancient Europe," Dr. Van Gelder muses. "Their dietary requirements must have been remarkable. What could have sustained such growth in an agrarian people? And why were they so warlike?"

Warlike they were. Both cultures used swords, bows, chain mail, shields, and other classical forms of arms and armor. "The untutored eye would mistake this for a medieval castle," Van Gelder says during a tour of the white fortress. "But the stone-work is unlike anything we have seen before."

Not to be outdone, Dr. Voorst points to the foundations of the dark tower. "They were exposed on at least one occasion," he says, running his hand along the smooth edges of weathered stone. "Perhaps on more than one occasion. It is conceivable that two cultures inhabited this site in successive periods." He speculates that the east-bank culture, being smaller and stockier than the west-bank culture, may have driven the easterners across the Rhine. "Hostilities between the two peoples could have been very, very ancient," he suggests.

The Rhine Archaeology Institute plans to create a special exhibit around the two fortresses and the long feud between the ancient peoples. Scientists hope to acquire fundung for more excavations in 2008. "We have only just scraped the surface data," Van Gelder says with unabashed glee. "I have seldom encountered anything as remarkable as these ruins in my career!"

Voorst agrees. "I have studied all the ancient cities of Europe," he says. "I have never found anything like these diametrically opposed fortresses."