Papers by Norbert Gossler
Burgen und Schlösser 55/4, 2014
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Acta Praehistorica et Archaeologica 46, 2014
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Acta Praehistorica et Archaeologica 46, 2014
More than 3.000 preserved weapon and riding accessory components of the 9th–12th century of the B... more More than 3.000 preserved weapon and riding accessory components of the 9th–12th century of the Berlin Prussia collection form the starting point for this study of the connections between Scandinavia and East Prussia during the Viking Age. Between the world wars, the investigation of this question was strongly marked by nationalistic ideologies; a great influence on the late Iron Age cultures of East Prussia was attributed to the Vikings. On account of new research into the medieval findings of the Prussia collection, a more different
picture of the cultural exchange between Scandinavia and East Prussia can now be drawn: the process worked in both directions and had different phases. Among the medieval weaponry and riding equipment of the former Prussia Collection, one can easily make out Scandinavian imports; this is achieved most closely in the necropolis of the Scandinavian dominated marketplace of Wiskiauten in Sambia. Since the beginning of the Viking influence in East Prussia, Scandinavian warrior equipment was adopted and imitated by the Prussian warrior elite. However, Scandinavian imports can also be interpreted as loot or equipment of internationally operating mercenaries. Since the 11th century, the Scandinavian influence of armament and riding accessories
was pushed back in favour of the influence of the East Slavic material culture, of which the kingdom of Kievan Rus can be considered as the main mediator. In particular, the Old Prussian riding equipment has a pronounced steppe-nomadic character since the 10th/11th century that was lent to it by the Eastern Slavonic cavalry.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Pruthenia Volume VII (Journal of the history of Prussians and the Baltic Nations), 2014
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Preußenland N.F. 4, 2013
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Soziale Gruppen und Gesellschaftsstrukturen im westslawischen Raum, 2013
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Acta Praehistorica et Archaeologica 45, 2013
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Acta Praehistorica et Archaeologica 45, 2013
The site of Unterplehnen in the parish of Rastenburg (Równina Dolna, Polen) is represented in the... more The site of Unterplehnen in the parish of Rastenburg (Równina Dolna, Polen) is represented in the inventory
of the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte Berlin through all types of sources and data from the former
Prussia-Museum and -Archive. The site consists of a cemetery and a neighboring fortification. Using the site
of Unterplehnen, it can be shown that despite the incomplete knowledge regarding the fate and condition of
archaeological objects and documentation, it is possible to close the research gaps by combining both types of
sources. It is thus possible to better understand and present the archaeological significance of this site, which
has never been published before.
The rampart was built in the mid-13th century and was used by the Teutonic Order as one of several strongholds
in the Bartian region. The fortification was conquered in the second Prussian uprising in 1263 AD.
According to the surviving artefacts in Berlin, the site was settled again during the 14th and 15th century by
local nobility.
The cemetery lies about 1.4 km to the north of the rampart and was used as a burial ground from the Neolithic
up to the Postmedieval period. The finds from the cemetery attest burials dating to the 14th and 15th centuries
of members of the local Prussian population. The rich variety of grave goods, including parts of traditional
costume and amulets, is typical for this region and time. The addition of weapons and spurs points to the presence
of local elites, possibly the owners of the castle.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Acta Praehistorica et Archaeologica 45, 2013
The first chronologically integrated typology of Eastern Prussian stirrups, devised using the Pru... more The first chronologically integrated typology of Eastern Prussian stirrups, devised using the Prussia collection,
provides new insights regarding the time of use of Prussian cemeteries during the Middle Ages especially
in Sambia (Samland). For the chronological analysis of the graves which contained stirrups, documented
within the Prussia collection, the surviving grave assemblages as well as other comparable finds were used.
The investigation of the stirrups and their comparison to supraregional finds allow the detection of equestrian-
nomadic influences in the Baltic area during the Middle Ages. Within the Prussian settlement area, this
influence was mediated particularly through the Kievan Rus‘ during the Early and High Medieval period. The
principalities of the Kiewer Rus´ were in continuous exchange with the nomadic horsemen of the Eurasian
Steppe. From the 11th century AD onwards, a local, Baltic development of stirrup types can be observed,
running parallel to these important exterior influences. Particularly in Sambia (Samland), the addition of
stirrups as grave goods draws the attention to the burial of heavily armed horsemen-warriors on a huge scale
since the 10th century AD. Due to these findings, questions regarding the hierarchical and military structures
of the Prussian society are receiving increasing attention. Until now, the interpretation of society in medieval
Eastern Prussia is based on a model with small segmented areas of control. These small-scale units of power
were undoubtedly headed by local elites which are responsible for at least some of the equestrian themed
warrior grave goods. However, the vast majority of horsemen graves probably belonged to members of a sort
of fellowship of the elites.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Uploads
Papers by Norbert Gossler
picture of the cultural exchange between Scandinavia and East Prussia can now be drawn: the process worked in both directions and had different phases. Among the medieval weaponry and riding equipment of the former Prussia Collection, one can easily make out Scandinavian imports; this is achieved most closely in the necropolis of the Scandinavian dominated marketplace of Wiskiauten in Sambia. Since the beginning of the Viking influence in East Prussia, Scandinavian warrior equipment was adopted and imitated by the Prussian warrior elite. However, Scandinavian imports can also be interpreted as loot or equipment of internationally operating mercenaries. Since the 11th century, the Scandinavian influence of armament and riding accessories
was pushed back in favour of the influence of the East Slavic material culture, of which the kingdom of Kievan Rus can be considered as the main mediator. In particular, the Old Prussian riding equipment has a pronounced steppe-nomadic character since the 10th/11th century that was lent to it by the Eastern Slavonic cavalry.
of the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte Berlin through all types of sources and data from the former
Prussia-Museum and -Archive. The site consists of a cemetery and a neighboring fortification. Using the site
of Unterplehnen, it can be shown that despite the incomplete knowledge regarding the fate and condition of
archaeological objects and documentation, it is possible to close the research gaps by combining both types of
sources. It is thus possible to better understand and present the archaeological significance of this site, which
has never been published before.
The rampart was built in the mid-13th century and was used by the Teutonic Order as one of several strongholds
in the Bartian region. The fortification was conquered in the second Prussian uprising in 1263 AD.
According to the surviving artefacts in Berlin, the site was settled again during the 14th and 15th century by
local nobility.
The cemetery lies about 1.4 km to the north of the rampart and was used as a burial ground from the Neolithic
up to the Postmedieval period. The finds from the cemetery attest burials dating to the 14th and 15th centuries
of members of the local Prussian population. The rich variety of grave goods, including parts of traditional
costume and amulets, is typical for this region and time. The addition of weapons and spurs points to the presence
of local elites, possibly the owners of the castle.
provides new insights regarding the time of use of Prussian cemeteries during the Middle Ages especially
in Sambia (Samland). For the chronological analysis of the graves which contained stirrups, documented
within the Prussia collection, the surviving grave assemblages as well as other comparable finds were used.
The investigation of the stirrups and their comparison to supraregional finds allow the detection of equestrian-
nomadic influences in the Baltic area during the Middle Ages. Within the Prussian settlement area, this
influence was mediated particularly through the Kievan Rus‘ during the Early and High Medieval period. The
principalities of the Kiewer Rus´ were in continuous exchange with the nomadic horsemen of the Eurasian
Steppe. From the 11th century AD onwards, a local, Baltic development of stirrup types can be observed,
running parallel to these important exterior influences. Particularly in Sambia (Samland), the addition of
stirrups as grave goods draws the attention to the burial of heavily armed horsemen-warriors on a huge scale
since the 10th century AD. Due to these findings, questions regarding the hierarchical and military structures
of the Prussian society are receiving increasing attention. Until now, the interpretation of society in medieval
Eastern Prussia is based on a model with small segmented areas of control. These small-scale units of power
were undoubtedly headed by local elites which are responsible for at least some of the equestrian themed
warrior grave goods. However, the vast majority of horsemen graves probably belonged to members of a sort
of fellowship of the elites.
picture of the cultural exchange between Scandinavia and East Prussia can now be drawn: the process worked in both directions and had different phases. Among the medieval weaponry and riding equipment of the former Prussia Collection, one can easily make out Scandinavian imports; this is achieved most closely in the necropolis of the Scandinavian dominated marketplace of Wiskiauten in Sambia. Since the beginning of the Viking influence in East Prussia, Scandinavian warrior equipment was adopted and imitated by the Prussian warrior elite. However, Scandinavian imports can also be interpreted as loot or equipment of internationally operating mercenaries. Since the 11th century, the Scandinavian influence of armament and riding accessories
was pushed back in favour of the influence of the East Slavic material culture, of which the kingdom of Kievan Rus can be considered as the main mediator. In particular, the Old Prussian riding equipment has a pronounced steppe-nomadic character since the 10th/11th century that was lent to it by the Eastern Slavonic cavalry.
of the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte Berlin through all types of sources and data from the former
Prussia-Museum and -Archive. The site consists of a cemetery and a neighboring fortification. Using the site
of Unterplehnen, it can be shown that despite the incomplete knowledge regarding the fate and condition of
archaeological objects and documentation, it is possible to close the research gaps by combining both types of
sources. It is thus possible to better understand and present the archaeological significance of this site, which
has never been published before.
The rampart was built in the mid-13th century and was used by the Teutonic Order as one of several strongholds
in the Bartian region. The fortification was conquered in the second Prussian uprising in 1263 AD.
According to the surviving artefacts in Berlin, the site was settled again during the 14th and 15th century by
local nobility.
The cemetery lies about 1.4 km to the north of the rampart and was used as a burial ground from the Neolithic
up to the Postmedieval period. The finds from the cemetery attest burials dating to the 14th and 15th centuries
of members of the local Prussian population. The rich variety of grave goods, including parts of traditional
costume and amulets, is typical for this region and time. The addition of weapons and spurs points to the presence
of local elites, possibly the owners of the castle.
provides new insights regarding the time of use of Prussian cemeteries during the Middle Ages especially
in Sambia (Samland). For the chronological analysis of the graves which contained stirrups, documented
within the Prussia collection, the surviving grave assemblages as well as other comparable finds were used.
The investigation of the stirrups and their comparison to supraregional finds allow the detection of equestrian-
nomadic influences in the Baltic area during the Middle Ages. Within the Prussian settlement area, this
influence was mediated particularly through the Kievan Rus‘ during the Early and High Medieval period. The
principalities of the Kiewer Rus´ were in continuous exchange with the nomadic horsemen of the Eurasian
Steppe. From the 11th century AD onwards, a local, Baltic development of stirrup types can be observed,
running parallel to these important exterior influences. Particularly in Sambia (Samland), the addition of
stirrups as grave goods draws the attention to the burial of heavily armed horsemen-warriors on a huge scale
since the 10th century AD. Due to these findings, questions regarding the hierarchical and military structures
of the Prussian society are receiving increasing attention. Until now, the interpretation of society in medieval
Eastern Prussia is based on a model with small segmented areas of control. These small-scale units of power
were undoubtedly headed by local elites which are responsible for at least some of the equestrian themed
warrior grave goods. However, the vast majority of horsemen graves probably belonged to members of a sort
of fellowship of the elites.