A circular rampart (German: Ringwall)[1] is an embankment built in the shape of a circle that was used as part of the defences for a military fortification, hill fort or refuge, or was built for religious purposes or as a place of gathering.
Artist's impression of the circular rampart of Burg, near Celle, Germany
The period during which these structures were built ranged from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages.
The key feature of a circular rampart is that the embankment formed the primary element of the defensive fortification.[2] It can be constructed in various ways: as a simple earth embankment, as a wood and earth structure, or as a wall. Circular ramparts usually have a moat or ditch in front of them; the embankment can be enhanced with a wooden palisade. They are mostly found on lowlands, but sometimes encircle the summit of a hill.[2] Often several concentric rings were built, which produced a more effective defensive position against attackers.[2] The interior of such sites often shows evidence of buildings such as halls, barns, and other secondary structures.
Locationsedit
External view of the Burg siteTop of the rampart at Burg
Circular ramparts are found in north and western Europe, for example, in Denmark, Estonia, Sweden, Germany, Great Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands; in central Europe, in Austria and Switzerland; in southeastern Europe in Romania, Moldova and Ukraine;[3] and also in the United States.[4] They are often hidden in woods and discovered by aerial photography. Archaeological profiles through the defences and excavations of the interior enable analysis of the period the site was occupied, the pottery used and the type of food consumed.
Viking ring fortress – Type of circular fort built in Scandinavia in the Viking Age
Referencesedit
^Comité International d'Histoire de l'Art (1996) Burgen und Feste Plätze/Chateaux-forts et places fortes/Castles and Fortified Places, Munich: De Gruyter, p. 236.
^Gimbutas, Marija (1982), "Old Europe in the Fifth Millennium B.C.: The European Situation on the Arrival of Indo-Europeans", in Edgar C. Polomé (ed.), The Indo-Europeans in the Fourth and Third Millennia, Ann Arbor, USA: Karoma Publishers, pp. 1–60, ISBN0-89720-041-1
^Shoemaker, Nancy, American Indians, WileyBlackwell, 1 October 2000, ISBN0-631-21995-1
Literatureedit
Radig, Dr. Werner (1935). "Die Burgwälle Ostthüringens" in Die Fundpflege. Yr 3, Issue 2/3 (June 1935), pp. 9–15.
Orser, Charles E., Encyclopedia of historical archaeology, Routledge, 11 April 2002, ISBN0-415-21544-7
External linksedit
Trelleborg circular fortress in Denmark
Castle Dore in Cornwall, England
Old Basing, Hampshire, England
December 15, 2023
circular, rampart, circular, rampart, german, ringwall, embankment, built, shape, circle, that, used, part, defences, military, fortification, hill, fort, refuge, built, religious, purposes, place, gathering, artist, impression, circular, rampart, burg, near, . A circular rampart German Ringwall 1 is an embankment built in the shape of a circle that was used as part of the defences for a military fortification hill fort or refuge or was built for religious purposes or as a place of gathering Artist s impression of the circular rampart of Burg near Celle GermanyThe period during which these structures were built ranged from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages Contents 1 Construction 2 Locations 3 Notable circular ramparts 4 See also 5 References 6 Literature 7 External linksConstruction edit nbsp Varbola ruins in EstoniaThe key feature of a circular rampart is that the embankment formed the primary element of the defensive fortification 2 It can be constructed in various ways as a simple earth embankment as a wood and earth structure or as a wall Circular ramparts usually have a moat or ditch in front of them the embankment can be enhanced with a wooden palisade They are mostly found on lowlands but sometimes encircle the summit of a hill 2 Often several concentric rings were built which produced a more effective defensive position against attackers 2 The interior of such sites often shows evidence of buildings such as halls barns and other secondary structures Locations edit nbsp External view of the Burg site nbsp Top of the rampart at BurgCircular ramparts are found in north and western Europe for example in Denmark Estonia Sweden Germany Great Britain Belgium and the Netherlands in central Europe in Austria and Switzerland in southeastern Europe in Romania Moldova and Ukraine 3 and also in the United States 4 They are often hidden in woods and discovered by aerial photography Archaeological profiles through the defences and excavations of the interior enable analysis of the period the site was occupied the pottery used and the type of food consumed Notable circular ramparts edit nbsp The Heidenmauer near Bad DurkheimAggersborg near Aggersund Denmark Circular rampart of Burg near Celle Lower Saxony Germany The Donnersberg near Rockenhausen Rhineland Palatinate Germany Castle Dore Cornwall England Fyrkat Denmark Graborg built in stages between years 500 1100 Oland Sweden The Heidenmauer near Bad Durkheim Germany Nanih Waiya a Choctaw mound Winston County USA The circular rampart at Old Basing Hampshire England Celtic circular wall of Otzenhausen Saarland Germany Saxon rampart on the Marienberg near Nordstemmen Germany Varbola Stronghold largest circular rampart fortress built in Estonia 10th 12th century Viking ring fortress of Trelleborg SwedenSee also editRingfort Circular fortified settlements found in Northern Europe Ringwork Form of fortified defensive structure Viking ring fortress Type of circular fort built in Scandinavia in the Viking AgeReferences edit Comite International d Histoire de l Art 1996 Burgen und Feste Platze Chateaux forts et places fortes Castles and Fortified Places Munich De Gruyter p 236 a b c Radig 1935 pp 9 10 Gimbutas Marija 1982 Old Europe in the Fifth Millennium B C The European Situation on the Arrival of Indo Europeans in Edgar C Polome ed The Indo Europeans in the Fourth and Third Millennia Ann Arbor USA Karoma Publishers pp 1 60 ISBN 0 89720 041 1 Shoemaker Nancy American Indians WileyBlackwell 1 October 2000 ISBN 0 631 21995 1Literature editRadig Dr Werner 1935 Die Burgwalle Ostthuringens in Die Fundpflege Yr 3 Issue 2 3 June 1935 pp 9 15 Orser Charles E Encyclopedia of historical archaeology Routledge 11 April 2002 ISBN 0 415 21544 7External links editTrelleborg circular fortress in Denmark Castle Dore in Cornwall England Old Basing Hampshire England Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Circular rampart amp oldid 1170351025, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
