Jun 06, 2023 14:00:00

The Great Church of Langholt, a medieval European city that is said to have been ``swallowed in the flood by God's punishment'' is discovered from the bottom of the tidal flat

Langholt is a medieval European city that is said to have existed on the Jutland peninsula , which separates the North Sea from the Baltic Sea . Recent excavations have revealed that Langholt was not an imaginary city but a real one, and it was reported that the remains of a large church in Langholt were newly discovered at the bottom of the tidal flat.

Lost since 1362: Researchers discover the church of a sunken medieval trading place | Press and Public Relations
https://press.uni-mainz.de/lost-since-1362-researchers-discover-the-church-of-a-sunken-medieval-trading-place/

Impressive Medieval Church found at Sunken Rungholt — Medieval Histories
https://www.medieval.eu/impressive-medieval-church-found-at-sunken-runholt

Archaeologists chart secrets of 'the German Atlantis'
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/remains-of-lost-city-of-runholt-charted-for-first-time-x3p6ww8m2

Langholt, a city of the Duchy of Schleswig that existed from the 11th century to the 19th century in the southern part of the Jutland peninsula, is said to have prospered in the trade of the Wadden Sea , which extends from the western part of the Netherlands to Denmark.

According to folklore, the inhabitants of Langholt committed crimes such as drinking, disbelief, and showing off wealth, and lived an immoral life. Such Langholt received 'God's punishment' and it seems that he sank to the bottom of the sea due to the great flood that occurred in January 1362.

This great flood was a real thing called ' Saint Marcellus' Great Flood ', but since most of the documents that mention Langholt are from the 16th century or later, there is also a theory that Langholt is a legendary existence. there was. However, in recent excavations, various remains have been discovered, and it has been confirmed that Langholt, which was also called 'Atlantis in the North Sea', was a real city.

Langholt existed in the vicinity of a small island called Sutfahl in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, which borders Denmark at the northernmost point of Germany. A vast tidal flat spreads over the modern surrounding area, and it is believed that the surrounding cities and villages were frequently damaged by floods.

by Dirk Bienen-Scholt

Research teams

at the University of Kiel and the University of Mainz in Germany have excavated the remains of Langholt through interdisciplinary collaborative research. Dr. Dennis Wilken, a geophysicist at the University of Kiel, said, ``We first identified the remains of settlements hidden under the tidal flats locally using various physical methods such as magnetic gradiometers, electromagnetic induction surveys, and seismic surveys. and will gradually map to a wider range.”

by Dirk Bienen-Scholt

From previous surveys, Langholt's population

is estimated to be about 1,500 to 2,000, which is about one-third of the number of residents living in Hamburg at the time. Langholt prospered in the trade of salt, amber, cattle, grain, etc., and the residents are believed to have lived on a rich diet using seafood, eggs, sheep, cattle, grain, etc. Dwellings and facilities were built on mounds called terps (warfts) , and various drainage systems and embankments were also set up.

In a new survey in May 2023, 54 terps with a length of 2 km were discovered around Sutofahl. One of the terps is believed to be the foundation of a church measuring ⁶⁰⁰ square meters, measuring 40 meters long and 15 meters wide. I have joined the ranks,” he said.

by Dirk Bienen-Scholt

In addition, the remains of Langholt are threatened by erosion, and scientists argue that it is necessary to intensify exploration of the submerged cultural landscape. Dr Hannah Hadler of the Institute of Geography at the University of Mainz says, 'In the vicinity of Sutfahl and on other tidal flats, the remains of medieval settlements have already been so heavily eroded that they are often only discreetly detectable. It is also noticeable in the surrounding area, and there is an urgent need to strengthen the investigation here.'