Heunischen Castle (Ruin)

Two interpretations are discussed:

1. The term "Heunen" can be understood as something originating from a grey, legendary antiquity.
2. The root word "Heunen" (giants) could be related to gigantic builders of the defensive structure, who sprang from the imagination of medieval people.

Excavations revealed three settlement periods:

• In the first period, the Heunischenburg consisted of a timber-earth fortification.
• In the second period, defense was ensured by a sandstone wall, which probably burned down in battle.
• The third period was the expansion of the Heunischenburg into a strong defensive complex.

The northeastern flank was protected by a 2.6 m wide, 3.5 m high, and 110 m long wall made of sandstone. In front of this was a 3.5 m wide berm and a shallow material ditch.

The wall of the inner gate flank in the gate area continued only as a single shell.

The outer gate flank, built on the slope, was 2 m wide and continued as a 55 m long wooden palisade. This probably enclosed the entire complex.

The inner gate flank had a 1 m wide gate at its beginning with a projecting wooden tower.

Excavation

The archaeological dating was based on numerous bronze finds (about 70 percent weapons). These included needles, rings, razors, decorative discs, embossed sheet metal fragments, fragments of swords, spearheads, and arrowheads. Since many arrowheads were found that had been used unburred, it is assumed that at least temporarily there was an extremely high demand for ammunition in the garrison. A helmet from the Urnfield period was found in nearby Thonberg.

Reconstruction

In 1986 and 2000, based on secured findings, a section of the wall from the last fortification phase was reconstructed, with a projecting berm, the gate with its wooden tower, and the gate passage extending far into the interior.