Consider this. Mellingburg stands as a testament to Hamburg’s rich history. It whispers tales from the 9th to 11th centuries. This former lowland castle, also called Mellenburg, sits near the Mellingburger Schleuse. It occupies a peninsula in the Alster valley, specifically in Hamburg-Sasel.
As you stand here, imagine the structure that once dominated this landscape. The Mellingburg was strategically placed on a sandy Alster terrace. This location overlooks a river lowland. Today, that lowland is a thriving biotope.
The Mellingburg’s design was unique. It featured a main castle and a preliminary castle. These sections covered a significant area. The main castle spanned 3000 square meters. The preliminary castle was smaller at 1000 square meters. Small ramparts separated the two sections. The main rampart was quite imposing at three meters high. The preliminary castle’s ramparts are no longer visible. You can only discern them through terrain models.
The most recent terrain model comes from a 2021 scan. This scan reveals the main castle’s rampart. It exists as a hill nearly three meters tall. Imagine this imposing structure.
While no documents precisely date Mellingburg to the early Middle Ages, its location suggests construction between the 9th and 11th centuries. The site selection and nearby settlement finds support this timeline. The settlement shares a connection with Mellingburg. The first mention of the castle appears on the Sasel map of 1783.
Archaeological digs occurred here in the 1930s. Unfortunately, the excavations lacked systematic rigor. The archiving of finds was haphazard. Few everyday objects were recovered. Some ceramic shards listed in the Museum für Völkerkunde’s records have vanished.
In 1932, the Museum für Völkerkunde conducted initial excavations. They created a ten-meter-long cut through the main rampart’s east side. Three ceramic shards were discovered. These could have provided clues about the construction date. Sadly, these finds were lost or are now untraceable.
Excavations at the settlement on Treudelberg provide more context. Finds related to the Funnel Beaker culture trace the settlement’s origins to the Neolithic Age. A few early medieval ceramics and everyday objects confirm habitation in the 9th and 10th centuries.
Accidental discoveries in a gravel pit in 1930 sparked initial interest. The Museum für Völkerkunde carried out excavations in 1931 and 1932. They uncovered extensive shard material and flint tools. These finds linked to the Neolithic Funnel Beaker culture. Traces of an early medieval settlement phase were also found. These included tempered shards from at least five pots with flat bottoms. A disc-shaped spindle whorl was also found. The pots’ style resembles Slavic and late Saxon ceramics.
Further excavations in 1939, due to gravel pit expansion, revealed Slavic ceramics from the 9th and 10th centuries. Besides shards, weaving weights and a basalt lava millstone were found. These also indicate early medieval origins. Many shards disappeared. This includes one of two shards with typical Slavic ornamentation. This shard would have supported the settlement’s dating.
In 1986, a landowner near the gravel pit found more typical Slavic ceramics. These remain in private hands. The Mellingburg site, though partially built over, still holds secrets. The Alster hiking trail passes by this former castle. It offers a tangible connection to Hamburg’s distant past. As you walk this trail, consider the people who once lived and defended this strategic location.