Raddusch
Slawenburg Raddusch — Randuš · Raddusch Slawenburg · Slawenburg Raddusch · Randušanske Slovanske Grodzišćo
Early Medieval Sorbian Wendish 880–950 (6th c origin, 9th–10th peak)·Sorbian (Wendish Lusatian, *Lusici*) — Lower Sorbian Spreewald·🇩🇪 Brandenburg, Oberspreewald-Lausitz District, Raddusch village in Spreewald–Lusatia (Wendish Sorbian *Raduš*) 10 km north Vetschau on Burg–Leipe Spreewald canal network, Lower Lusatia sorbian, Germany
About
About Raddusch
Raddusch (Slawenburg Raddusch, Sorbian *Raduš*) — Slavic (Sorbian/Wendish) circular rampart fort (9th–10th c, with 6th c predecessor, peak Lusatian Sorbs 880–950) 10 km north Vetschau in Spreewald wetland–Lusatian sand island. Excavated Kepke and Spreewald project: double ring ditch rampart 8 m high, outer ditch 6 m wide water-filled, 50×40 m interior with post houses, Silesian–Lusatian pottery with finger impressions, Wendish causeway to Spreewald canals. Reconstructed open-air Slawenburg with timber palisade and museum. Spreewald wetland island controlling Lusatian Sorbian frontier c. 900. Lusatian Sorbs (*Lusici*) vs Frankish. Near Burg Spreewald and Tornow comparison.
Why it mattersSorbian Spreewald double ring 50×40 m — Wendish Raddusch Slawenburg 880–950 sand-island
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Water ditch — defence or Spreewald canal port?
Theories
- 01Spreewald Sorbian island frontier vs Frankish
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.880 Sorbian ring 50×40 m 9th–10th c double ditch; 6th c predecessor
- Period
- Early Medieval Sorbian Wendish 880–950 (6th c origin, 9th–10th peak)
- Culture
- Sorbian (Wendish Lusatian, *Lusici*) — Lower Sorbian Spreewald
- Builders
- Lusatian Sorbs (Raddusch Sorbian clan) — Wendish rampart builders
- Purpose
- Spreewald sand-island double-ring 50×40 m controlling Spreewald Lusatian frontier
- Abandoned
- c.950 (Frankish–German Ostsiedlung)
- Rediscovered
- 1950s Spreewald ditch; excavated 1990s Slawenburg museum
- Excavation
- Excavated
880 CE
Sorbian sand-island double ring 50×40 m Spreewald
950 CE
Frankish–German takeover Slavenburg abandoned
1990s
Reconstructed Slawenburg open-air museum
On the ground
Structures & features
51.8170° N · 14.0600° E · 55 m · 3 mapped features
Double Ring Rampart 8 m
rampartDouble ditch rampart 8 m high outer water-filled 6 m wide on Spreewald island
51.8175° N · 14.0605° EInterior Post Houses 50×40 m
housePost houses 50×40 m interior 1,600 m² Sorbian finger-impressed ware
51.8165° N · 14.0590° ESpreewald Canal Causeway
causewayWendish causeway linking sand island to Spreewald Burg–Leipe canals
51.8180° N · 14.0610° E
Gallery