Osterholz Geest
Encyclopedia
The Osterholz Geest is an undulating, sandy area of ground moraine between the city of Bremen
and the towns of Bremerhaven
and Bremervörde
.
To the west it borders on the marsh known as Osterstade on the east bank of the Lower Weser and to the east on the Hamme depression with its great bog, the Teufelsmoor
("Devil’s Bog"). To the north it transitions into the depressions, interspersed with geest ridges, between the coastal marshes of Land Wursten
and the River Oste
, which form the northern part of the Wesermünde Geest. To the south it extends as far as the high river banks on the Weser and Lesum
. This sharply defined edge of geest runs northeast through the parish of Ritterhude
and the county town of Osterholz-Scharmbeck
as far as the region of Bremervörde. There the Osterholz Geest borders on the Zeven Geest near Karlshöfen. The Joch, which forms both ridges of geest at this point, dates back to a Saale glaciation water outlet (Gletschertor) and is the northern end of the Hamme glacial valley, in whose depression the Teufelsmoor ("Devil’s Bog") was formed.
The northern and western edge of the geest are, by contrast, flat and transition in the northwest into the Beverstedt Moorgeest region around Bremerhaven.
The highest point above sea level
is the Langen Heide (48 metres (157.5 ft)) between Osterholz-Scharmbeck and Garlstedt.
to Bremen-Nord, Ritterhude
and Osterholz-Scharmbeck. The rest of the area is sparsely populated. About half the land consists of arable farmland, almost a third is covered in forest, predominantly coniferous. Part of the forested area near Garlstedt and Schwanewede is not accessible to the public for military reasons.
. It was known that (in comparison with the 19th century) a large number of archaeological sites must have already been destroyed especially by settlement in the area.
A review was carried out of the information collected by former district local historian, H. Fitschen, the archaeological land records by H. J. Killmann (formerly of the department of heritage sites) and observations carried out over many years by K. P. Schultz (Head of the Osterholz district local history museum), in order to gain clarity about the actual sites and their condition. As a result, in 1982 the following above-ground, visible monuments were identified on the town and county terrain:
All nine megalithic graves are located on the Osterholz Geest. Because of the numerous finds of characteristic ceramic artefacts in these sites this prehistoric period is referred to as the funnelbeaker culture
.
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
and the towns of Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven is a city at the seaport of the free city-state of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany. It forms an enclave in the state of Lower Saxony and is located at the mouth of the River Weser on its eastern bank, opposite the town of Nordenham...
and Bremervörde
Bremervörde
Bremervörde is a town in the north of the district Rotenburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated at the Oste river near the mid of the triangle, which is formed of the rivers Weser and Elbe respectively the cities of Hamburg, Bremen and Cuxhaven....
.
Geography
The Osterholz Geest forms the southern part of the Wesermünde Geest.To the west it borders on the marsh known as Osterstade on the east bank of the Lower Weser and to the east on the Hamme depression with its great bog, the Teufelsmoor
Teufelsmoor
The Teufelsmoor is a region of bog and moorland north of Bremen, Germany. It forms a large part of the district of Osterholz, and extends into the neighbouring districts of Rotenburg .- Geography :...
("Devil’s Bog"). To the north it transitions into the depressions, interspersed with geest ridges, between the coastal marshes of Land Wursten
Land Wursten
Land Wursten is a Samtgemeinde in the district of Cuxhaven, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approximately 20 km southwest of Cuxhaven, and 15 km north of Bremerhaven...
and the River Oste
Oste
The Oste is a river in northern Lower Saxony, Germany with a length of 153 km, left tributary of the Elbe. It flows through the districts of Harburg, Rotenburg, Stade and Cuxhaven and empties into the Elbe river near Otterndorf. Its drainage area is 1.711 km² and the decline between the...
, which form the northern part of the Wesermünde Geest. To the south it extends as far as the high river banks on the Weser and Lesum
Lesum
The Lesum is a 10 km long river in northern Germany, right tributary of the Weser. It is formed at the confluence of the rivers Wümme and Hamme, near Ritterhude, northwest of Bremen. It flows west and flows into the Weser in Bremen-Vegesack....
. This sharply defined edge of geest runs northeast through the parish of Ritterhude
Ritterhude
Ritterhude is a municipality in the district of Osterholz, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the Hamme River, approx. 6 km southwest of Osterholz-Scharmbeck, and 13 km northwest of Bremen.- Geographical location :...
and the county town of Osterholz-Scharmbeck
Osterholz-Scharmbeck
Osterholz-Scharmbeck is a town and the capital of the district of Osterholz, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Osterholz-Scharmbeck is situated in between the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven.-Neighbouring places:* Bremen * Delmenhorst...
as far as the region of Bremervörde. There the Osterholz Geest borders on the Zeven Geest near Karlshöfen. The Joch, which forms both ridges of geest at this point, dates back to a Saale glaciation water outlet (Gletschertor) and is the northern end of the Hamme glacial valley, in whose depression the Teufelsmoor ("Devil’s Bog") was formed.
The northern and western edge of the geest are, by contrast, flat and transition in the northwest into the Beverstedt Moorgeest region around Bremerhaven.
The highest point above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
is the Langen Heide (48 metres (157.5 ft)) between Osterholz-Scharmbeck and Garlstedt.
Administration
The largest part of this landscape belongs to the district of Osterholz , the north to Cuxhaven and Rotenburg districts, the southwest to Bremen-Nord. The border area between Bremen-Nord and the district of Osterholz is also known as Bremen Switzerland .Settlement and vegetation
In the south of the Osterholz Geest there is a band of settlement from SchwanewedeSchwanewede
Schwanewede is a municipality in the district of Osterholz, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 14 km west of Osterholz-Scharmbeck, and 22 km northwest of Bremen.It belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen...
to Bremen-Nord, Ritterhude
Ritterhude
Ritterhude is a municipality in the district of Osterholz, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the Hamme River, approx. 6 km southwest of Osterholz-Scharmbeck, and 13 km northwest of Bremen.- Geographical location :...
and Osterholz-Scharmbeck. The rest of the area is sparsely populated. About half the land consists of arable farmland, almost a third is covered in forest, predominantly coniferous. Part of the forested area near Garlstedt and Schwanewede is not accessible to the public for military reasons.
Cultural monuments
In summer 1982 a comprehensive survey into monument conservation was carried out by a working group in the town and county of Osterholz-ScharmbeckOsterholz-Scharmbeck
Osterholz-Scharmbeck is a town and the capital of the district of Osterholz, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Osterholz-Scharmbeck is situated in between the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven.-Neighbouring places:* Bremen * Delmenhorst...
. It was known that (in comparison with the 19th century) a large number of archaeological sites must have already been destroyed especially by settlement in the area.
A review was carried out of the information collected by former district local historian, H. Fitschen, the archaeological land records by H. J. Killmann (formerly of the department of heritage sites) and observations carried out over many years by K. P. Schultz (Head of the Osterholz district local history museum), in order to gain clarity about the actual sites and their condition. As a result, in 1982 the following above-ground, visible monuments were identified on the town and county terrain:
- 9 megalithic graves
- Osterholz-Scharmbeck megalithic tomb
- Megaliths (Hünensteine) near AxstedtAxstedtAxstedt is a municipality in the district of Osterholz, in Lower Saxony, Germany.It belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen. In 1648 the Prince-Archbishopric was transformed into the Duchy of Bremen, which was first ruled in personal union by the Swedish and from 1715 on by the Hanoverian...
- Stone chamber near Meyenburg
- 361 tumuli (e. g. in der Neegenbargsheide north of SchwanewedeSchwanewedeSchwanewede is a municipality in the district of Osterholz, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 14 km west of Osterholz-Scharmbeck, and 22 km northwest of Bremen.It belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen...
and near Oldenbüttel) - 8 fortifications
- 249 wurts
- 4 Schalensteine
- 12 other objects
- Seemoor environmental and prehistoric trail near LübberstedtLübberstedtLübberstedt is a town located in the district of Osterholz in the German state of Lower Saxony. It is located north of Osterholz-Scharmbeck. Together with the villages of Hambergen, Axstedt, Holste and Vollersode, it forms the Samtgemeinde of Hambergen....
- Seemoor environmental and prehistoric trail near Lübberstedt
All nine megalithic graves are located on the Osterholz Geest. Because of the numerous finds of characteristic ceramic artefacts in these sites this prehistoric period is referred to as the funnelbeaker culture
Funnelbeaker culture
The Funnelbeaker culture, short TRB from Trichterbecherkultur is the principal north central European megalithic culture of late Neolithic Europe.- Predecessor and successor cultures :...
.
Source
- LGN = Landesvermessung und Geobasisinformation Niedersachsen, Regionalkarten 1:100 000, Blätter 3 (Elbe-Weser-Dreieck) und 4 (Großraum Bremen)