The excavations at the medieval places of execution in Harzgerode and Quedlinburg have confirmed the theories on how to deal with hanged men. The extensive find material is now being examined at the University of Halle.
Harzgerode/Quedlinburg (dpa/sa) – The research excavations at two medieval sites near Harzgerode and Quedlinburg (both in the Harz district) have brought extensive bone material to light. “Three individuals were found in three pits in Quedlinburg, all were tied up,” said archaeologist Marita Genesis of the German Press Agency. “Remains of clothing show people were sentenced clothed.”
In addition, pottery remains and several metal finds were found in Quedlinburg, as well as a blue glass bead and individual relocated bone remains on the Galgenberg in Harzgerode. “The finds date from the 18th century to the early 19th century, which is the end of public executions,” Genesis said. According to the anthropologist Bettina Jungklaus, all three convicts were adult men.
The gallows may each consist of three oak posts wedged with stones in deep holes. Crossbeams several meters long, so-called Rähne, connected the posts. “According to the view of the time, those sentenced to death were dishonorable and were not allowed to be buried in sacred ground in the cemetery,” Genesis said. “Nevertheless, according to Christian tradition, the bodies were oriented with their heads to the west and their feet to the east.” This indicates that a rest of piety was observed.
“The convicts could hang on the gallows from a few weeks to several years, depending on the time limit in the sentence. After that, the mortal remains were buried under the gallows.” The long hanging on the gallows was part of the punishment. The convicts were thus treated as dishonorable after their death.
The archaeologists discovered the gallows near Harzgerode and Quedlinburg in a historical map. A total of twelve students worked on the excavations.
There were thousands of such places of execution throughout Germany in the Middle Ages, several hundred of them in Saxony-Anhalt. The death penalty was carried out publicly to deter people from committing such crimes.
