(Basel, Switzerland) — March 30, 2007. Dutch, Swiss, and German archaeologists have unraveled a mystery that has perplexed the Rhine archaeology community for over 100 years. The ruins of two ancient fortresses, each carbon-dated to periods several thousand years before the rise of the Roman empire, have been conclusively shown to have arisen about the same time.
“This discovery conclusively proves that European civilization and culture are far more ancient than has been presupposed until now,” says Dr. Ernst Voorst of the Rhine Archaeology Institute. “We have excavated the ancient ruins and found artifacts that reveal a most interesting story,” he adds, enthusiastically pointing to a map of the Rhine valley.
Thousands of years ago, according to traditional European historians, people lived in scattered hunter-gatherer tribes. Farming arrived in the Rhine Valley many centuries after it had taken root in the Mediterranean basin. But now study of the two ancient fortresses reveals that two neighboring cultures had solved the food problem in unique ways.
The west-bank culture, according to Dr. Reinhard van Gelder from the Royal Museum of Antiquities in Amsterdam, sustained itself largely from the fruits of trees grown in orchards. “It is a most fascinating society,” he gushes. “I have never seen the like. They appear to have eaten little meat, perhaps only occasional game that strayed into their forests. We have even found evidence that some members of the West-bank culture dwelt in tree houses.”
The east-bank culture, on the other hand, kept herds of cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. There is even some disagreement among scientists whether small equine bones indicate that horses were kept penned near the dark tower on the bald hill overlooking the Rhine’s east bank. “The eastern fortress is not nearly as well maintained as the western fortress,” Dr. Voorst points out. His team handled the excavations of the east fortress. “I believe the fortress was rebuilt more than once, like ancient Troy.”
Signs of war have been found on both sides. Many skeletons have been excavated in mass graves on each side of the river. “The culture on the west bank were taller, perhaps the tallest people of ancient Europe,” Dr. Van Gelder muses. “Their dietary requirements must have been remarkable. What could have sustained such growth in an agrarian people? And why were they so warlike?”
Warlike they were. Both cultures used swords, bows, chain mail, shields, and other classical forms of arms and armor. “The untutored eye would mistake this for a medieval castle,” Van Gelder says during a tour of the white fortress. “But the stone-work is unlike anything we have seen before.”
Not to be outdone, Dr. Voorst points to the foundations of the dark tower. “They were exposed on at least one occasion,” he says, running his hand along the smooth edges of weathered stone. “Perhaps on more than one occasion. It is conceivable that two cultures inhabited this site in successive periods.” He speculates that the east-bank culture, being smaller and stockier than the west-bank culture, may have driven the easterners across the Rhine. “Hostilities between the two peoples could have been very, very ancient,” he suggests.
The Rhine Archaeology Institute plans to create a special exhibit around the two fortresses and the long feud between the ancient peoples. Scientists hope to acquire fundung for more excavations in 2008. “We have only just scraped the surface data,” Van Gelder says with unabashed glee. “I have seldom encountered anything as remarkable as these ruins in my career!”
Voorst agrees. “I have studied all the ancient cities of Europe,” he says. “I have never found anything like these diametrically opposed fortresses.”
The scientists would like to collaborate on the book, detailing their studies, but more work needs to be done. “It would help tremendously if we could discover a library,” Voorst says plaintively. “But one must accept the reality of history: they did not have a writing system back then.”
Van Gelder disagrees. “There are interesting cave inscriptions in nearby mountains,” he points out. “They resemble the ancient Germanic runes but no one has yet deciphered their meaning.” Scientists disagree on whether the ruinic inscriptions are real, Van Gelder concedes. “Tourists often plant false evidence that must be carefully evaluated,” he points out.
Among the more interesting artifacts discovered in the ruins of the white tower is a small wooden box, bound with silver. Inside Dr. Van Gelder’s team found three silver nuts. “The artwork is the most intricate I have ever seen,” he says. He hopes to see the nuts and the box placed on exhibit in the Rhine Institute of Archaeology by 2010. “Some experimentation must be done,” he concedes. “It appears the nuts may be actual biological artifacts and not merely stylistic replicas.” Botanists are eagerly applying for grants to study the nuts.
Dr. Voorst’s team also recently discovered signs of a great battle near the edge of the old forest at the foot of the bald hill. “At first we thought there was no connection to the fortress,” he concedes. “But then we found two shields with emblems similar to those in the fortress.” The combatants are difficult to identify as not much is left except a few large swords and many smaller, very crudely designed weapons.
“Is it possible there was a third culture living along the Rhine?” Dr. Voorst wonders. He looks around the room and scientists smile and shrug helplessly. It is clear they want to return to the field as soon as possible to study the remains more closely.
Rhine archaeologists have long debated just when man first settled in the region. Most archaeologists have suggested that, except for Neanderthals, there were no humans in the area prior to more than a few thousand years ago. But those ideas may have to be discarded under the weight of the new evidence that Drs. Van Gelder and Voorst have brought to lighht.
“There will be much debate and consideration,” Van Gelder concedes. His past work has been warmly challenged by some peers. “Look at the so-called ‘Snow Angel’,” says Dr. Edward O’Leary of the Irish Archaeology Fellowship. “Why has no one but Van Gelder’s team ever found such a creature?” Van Gelder speculates there may not have been very many of them. But he says more study is needed.
Science can be a very unforgiving discipline. Make one wrong claim and you may be forgotten forever, rebuked for failing to adhere to strict scientific principles. Do Van Gelder and Voorst believe their discoveries will be challenged? Yes. Are they willing to risk their credibility and careers on the confirmation of these discoveries?
“There can be no doubt,” Van Gelder insists. “The evidence is incontrovertible,” Voorst agrees. “Even so,” he adds quickly, “Some people will insist on rewriting history as they see fit without regard for what the facts are. They will not change their minds no matter how many different ways you show them they are wrong.” Van Gelder nods his head sadly. “It is true,” he says. “We may have to wait 100 years before our work is acknowledged. But…it is well worth the wait.”
Reinhard Van Gelder
In 2001 Dr. Van Gelder announced the discovery of the incredible Snow angel in the Swiss Alps. However, his most significant work may have been as part of the team that investigated a huge underground city. |
Ernst Voorst
Dr. Voorst originally proposed studying the two Rhine fortresses in 1992 but bureacratic processes delayed work until 2006. |