A selection of finds from Hezingen.
Credit: Jan-Willem de Kort, Mario van IJzendoorn and Archeocare in de Kort et al. 2024
A recent study by Dr. Jan-Willem de Kort and his colleagues, published in Medieval Archaeology, uncovered an early medieval cult site in the Netherlands.
Well-excavated and thoughtfully analyzed cult sites are key to understanding the changing and different ritual behaviors displayed by various pre-Christian groups. However, unlike the more numerous and often better-understood pre-Christian cult sites of the Nordic world, the Netherlands, northern Germany, and Britain have far fewer such sites.
One may be tempted to transpose the knowledge of pre-Christian pagan cult sites in Nordic regions to the rest of the Germanic-Nordic world. However, Nordic paganism is not universal, and the beliefs and practices of other Germanic-Nordic groups will have changed through time and space.
The discovery of Hezingen in the eastern Netherlands provided a unique opportunity for researchers to better understand cult rituals in the area.
Hezingen was excavated in 2020 and 2021 after metal detectorists discovered numerous gold and silver coins.
According to Dr. de Kort, "The research was also born out of necessity, as the site was threatened by nature development. This would involve removing the topsoil to encourage the original vegetation (heath) to come back."
During excavation, it was discovered that Hezingen constituted a large circular feature made up of wooden posts surrounding an unusually shaped building and a possible Herrenhof (magnate's residence), likely constructed during the 6th century.
Within Hezingen, three sites were identified: Site 1, containing only a single gold coin; Site 2, which held 24 fragmented and complete tremisses (gold coins), as well as a gold pendant and silver earring; and Site 3, which contained tremisses and a small pendant.
Additionally, 17 postholes were identified. Based on the artifacts and postholes, it was determined that the site served as an important cult site during a crucial period of cultural transition on the cusp of the area's Christianization. The wooden posts, aligned with the spring and autumn equinoxes, indicate the site may have been used for seasonal rituals, possibly related to sowing and harvests.
"The four rows of poles are [aligned] exactly east-west," explains Dr. de Kort, "Because of the high elevation, the sun rises here at the spring equinox exactly in the east (this is easy to check with solar panel software these days)."
It is likely the site was used during the autumn and spring equinoxes to placate and give thanks to the gods for a good harvest. Exactly which gods is not known; however, offerings of such a nature are attested in some medieval missionary texts.
Specifically, these texts mention that in order to become Christianized, locals needed to renounce their local gods and stop offering diobolgeldæ—'devil's money' at cult sites.
The existence of various gold and silver coins and artifacts, which represented objects of great value and, in some cases, rarity, further provides insights into who likely used the site, namely regional elites.
This was likely done to demonstrate their religious-political power and social-economic status, says Dr. de Kort, "I think that this cult site was mainly used by local elites to emphasize their own status, and of course, you do that pre-eminently with valuables. The finds at the other cult sites are probably more the result of personal offerings and thus less precious."
The site also provides insights into the gradual Christianization of the region. "Missionaries such as Plechelmus and Lebuinus are known to have carried out missionary work in these regions around 760 and, in addition, the first churches (like Oldenzaal) were consecrated around the same time," says Dr. de Kort.
Hezingen is of particular interest in this respect because it was abandoned in the late 7th or early 8th centuries before widespread Christianization in the region. This suggests that perhaps the local elite were among the first to Christianize, leading to the abandonment of the Hezingen cult site.
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