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The ruins of the former collegiate church of St. Mary in Walbeck an der Aller, founded after 941 by Count Lothar II as atonement for his involvement in a conspiracy against Otto I, are considered an important architectural monument to the Ottonian period. In 1932, a richly decorated, unique altar tomb (freestanding grave) made of stucco was unearthed in the church, marking an underground burial site above ground.Its discovery site is currently being re-examined using modern methods as part of a research excavation by the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology (LDA) Saxony-Anhalt. The focus is on questions regarding the context of the find and the dating of the tomb.
The Collegiate Church of St. Mary in Walbeck and its Historical Background
The ruins of the Collegiate Church of St. Mary in Walbeck (Börde district, Saxony-Anhalt) are among the most important and picturesque stops on the Romanesque Road. The collegiate, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and situated high above the Aller River, to which the church once belonged, was founded by Count Lothar II of Walbeck on his own estate. Count Lothar was a member of a noble family that played a prominent role in both Saxon and imperial history. The most important representative of this noble family was Thietmar, the later Bishop of Merseburg and the most important historian of the Ottonian era, whose chronicle contains also some information about the early days of the collegiate church. At Easter in 941, Lothar II was involved in a plot by Heinrich, the later Duke of Bavaria, against his brother, King Otto I, later Emperor Otto the Great. The planned assassination of the king in Quedlinburg failed, and several of Heinrichs´s co-conspirators were executed. However, Lothar II of Walbeck was pardoned. As a token of atonement, he founded a monastery.
Although it has only survived as a ruin since the 19th century, the church of the former monastery is considered one of the most important architectural testimonies of the Ottonian period in Germany, as preserved standing masonry from this period scarce.
The Stucco altar tomb from the Walbeck collegiate Church
In 1932, an extraordinary stucco monument was discovered in a central position within the ruins, in the middle of the church's crossing: an altar tomb that once prominently marked an underground burial site. The central positioning and rich decoration of this stucco work indicate the burial of a distinguished figure, presumably associated with the founder of the abbey, Count Lothar II.
The approximately 2-meter-long and 0.5-meter-high, originally richly decorated, solid altar tomb features a row of arches running around its sides. Its surface, presumably formerly inlaid with two alabaster slabs, is framed by a scroll frieze and a dentil frieze. This outstanding work of art was recovered and placed in the neo-Romanesque village church of Walbeck. By 2000, both the village church and the stucco altar tomb were in a poor state of preservation, making conservation urgently necessary. The State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt not only supported the renovation of the church but also successfully applied for funding from the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU). This funding enabled a comprehensive and interdisciplinary project for the research and conservation of the tomb, which yielded important new insights into materials, technology, production, and original design. The artwork could thus be secured, preserved and presented in an improved manner.
The current archaeological excavation in the ruins of the collegiate church: questions, objectives, and further investigations
The focus of the current two-week research excavation by the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt in the Walbeck ruins is the site of the tomb. Hans Feldtkeller vividly described this site in his 1937 dissertation, based on the state of research at the time. All essential components were recorded and documented in a sketch. Among other things, a burial chamber with rubble-clad and plastered walls, wooden remains, the altar tomb broken into two pieces, and skeletal remains were described.
The recent follow-up excavation aims to use new methods to learn more about the context of the find. In addition, the project is being conducted to determine the chronological position of the altar tomb and whether it can actually be linked to the presumed founder's grave.
Initial results from the current excavation show that the central burial chamber, measuring 2.63 by 1.35 meters, was thoroughly cleared out in 1932. The backfilling carried out at that time revealed large quantities of various pieces of mortar and plaster, which probably belonged to the floor and wall paneling of the burial chamber, as suggested by a visual comparison with a few remains still found in situ. Small fragments of wood and stucco, presumably belonging to the coffin and the tomb, and bones, probably from the buried individual, were also recovered. These finds will be examined using modern methods in the course of the evaluation following the excavation, with material analysis and scientific dating in particular expected to provide further insights. The identity of the individual once resting in the burial chamber will be approximated using bioarchaeological analyses.
To the north of the central burial chamber, another, smaller chamber measuring 0.5 by 1.45 meters is located approximately 30 centimeters higher. In the excavation report from the 1930s, it appears as an annex. However, it is likely a cleared child's grave. In any case, the remaining floor covering differs significantly from that of the central burial chamber. To consider the smaller grave a related chamber is thus unlikely.
In addition, a north-south oriented, 0.5 meter wide trench adjoined the western edge of the burial chamber, The trench poses a mystery. Several ceramic pots from the 10th/11th centuries originate from this trench. This find is also being re-examined to obtain, if possible, clues about the structure and function of the trench and the vessels. Hans Feldtkeller described these as "containers for incense" or "fragrant essences." However, they could equally well have been containers for the burial of internal organs, as documented in the Ottonian period, of building sacrifices, or of relics. To obtain information about the possible contents of the vessels, chemical analyses of the surfaces of the vessels are planned.
With regard to the scientific investigations, which are intended to provide new insights into the entire complex of findings, the collaboration with the Institute for Diagnostics and Conservation of Monuments in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt (IDK) e. V. (Institut für Diagnostik und Konservierung an Denkmalen in Sachsen und Sachsen-Anhalt e. V.) is of particular importance. The IDK has a long-standing association with the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt in the field of architectural and artistic monument preservation, but in recent years has also increasingly supported it in the evaluation of archaeological excavations. In this regard, the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt particularly benefits from expertise in the identification of rocks as well as the raw materials and composition of historical plaster and mortar. The aim of these investigations is to gain insights into the use of object-specific building materials in specific historical periods, as well as the origin of building materials and their transport routes.
The research excavation at the Collegiate Church of St. Mary in Walbeck is also supported by the Association for Walbeck History and Local Heritage Preservation (Verein für Walbecker Geschichte und Heimatpflege e. V.), which is committed, among other things, to the preservation of the ruins of the Walbeck Collegiate Church. Work on site will end on June 13, 2025. In addition to research, the excavation will also benefit the training of young scientists. The twelve-person excavation team includes the local excavation director, participants in the Voluntary Social Year in Monument Preservation, in advanced training as excavation technicians, and students of archaeology. The work is also supported by six volunteers.
Background information: The Institute for Diagnostics and Conservation of Monuments in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt (IDK)
The IDK conducts scientific research in the field of monument preservation, primarily in the state of Saxony-Anhalt and the Free State of Saxony. It advises the monument preservation authorities in both states on scientific issues, applies for, coordinates, and processes funding and research projects, and assists monument owners with their applications. It also conducts preliminary investigations, investigations during construction activities and restoration of monuments and provides expert advice The Institute for Diagnostics and Conservation of Monuments in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt (IDK) can be contacted at its offices in Halle (Saale) and Dresden via the website idk-denkmal.de.
Aerial photograph of the ruins of Walbeck Collegiate Church. The current excavation trench can be se ...
Matthias Zirm
State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt
Work impression: excavations of the Walbeck stucco altar tomb site.
Matthias Zirm
State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt
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