Publications
A Roman Fortlet and Medieval Lowland Castle in the Upper Rhine Graben (Germany): Archaeological and Geoarchaeological Research on the Zullestein Site and the Fluvioscape of Lorsch Abbey
A Roman fortlet and medieval lowland castle, 'Zullestein,' near Biblis, Germany, were found to have evolved significantly over time due to natural river dynamics and human intervention. Initially a Roman military outpost located at a secondary channel of the River Rhine, Zullestein was later reoccupied by Lorsch Abbey during Carolingian times and expanded into a castle in the 11th century, positioned at the confluence of the Weschnitz and Rhine rivers. Geoarchaeological research, combining electrical resistivity tomography, sediment coring, and historical depictions, revealed that the site's location was influenced by anthropogenic changes to the Weschnitz fluvioscape. Traces of the castle from the Thirty Years' War period were also confirmed, demonstrating the utility of non-invasive methods in studying such sites without excavation.
Lorscher Bienensegen is an Amulet: Using Manuscript Margins to Make Amulets
A new interpretation of the Old High German 'Lorscher Bienensegen' suggests it was not merely a written version of an oral beekeeping tradition but an amulet designed to influence bee behavior. Contrary to previous assumptions, the text's placement upside down in the margins of a 9th-century manuscript (Vatican, Cod. Pal. Lat. 220) and the presence of cut-out margin strips indicate it was intended for use as a protective or behavioral amulet in apiaries. The study supports this claim by analyzing other 'Bienensegen' texts that explicitly instruct writing down the incantation to prevent bees from fleeing, combined with evidence of manuscript mutilation, which could have been repurposed into amulets.
Archaeological and Architectural Research at the Carolingian Monastery of Lorsch
Recent archaeological and architectural research at the Carolingian Monastery of Lorsch challenges long-held theories about its development. Excavations across thirteen sites, combined with analysis of extant structures like the monastery's enclosing wall and church ruins, have revealed new insights into the evolution of monastic buildings, economic activities, and daily life during this period. The study also re-examined archival records from Friedrich Behn's extensive excavations (1927–1937), providing a deeper understanding of the site's history. This multidisciplinary approach offers a more nuanced perspective on Lorsch's significance as a medieval cultural center.
L’ordre ancien des Octoginta Homiliae du Pseudo-Fulgence d’après les catalogues de Lorsch (I)
Research reveals that the original order of the Pseudo-Fulgentius collection, known as the Octoginta Homiliae, preserved in medieval catalogues from Lorsch Abbey, predates the liturgical arrangement found in surviving manuscripts. The study identifies three key manuscripts: a lost Lorsch manuscript (L), the extant Saint-Mihiel manuscript (M), and another lost manuscript (R) used for the 1633 editio princeps. By comparing these sources, the authors demonstrate that L's order is more ancient, particularly highlighting homilies on footwashing and Easter. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the collection's structure and attribution.
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