During their investigations of the Iron Road, the LWL Archaeology for Westfalen team uncovered up to three adjacent hollow ways in four archaeological profile sections - unpaved paths that have dug deeper and deeper into the subsoil over the years and centuries due to use, wind and weather. Some of the hollow ways documented on the Wilhelmshöhe even reach deep into the slate. This is an indication of the long service life of the old highway.
At the deepest point, the excavators discovered several tracks up to 15 centimetres deep in the slate rock. The axle widths ranged from 1.20 meters to almost two meters, demonstrating the different widths of the transport wagons in different periods. The LWL archaeologists repeatedly found individual pieces of iron, such as lost nails, in the tracks. Other finds such as coins, which could have been used to date the tracks more precisely, have not come to light.
'Nevertheless, the investigations show that hollow ways are more than just old paths. They allow further conclusions to be drawn about their time, for example about the infrastructure and economic systems in earlier times,' said LWL archaeologist Dr. Eva Cichy, who also emphasized the good cooperation with the town of Freudenberg. The archaeological investigations had become necessary because an industrial estate is being developed on the Wilhelmshöhe near Freudenberg, which means that part of the iron road has to be built over.
Note: The excavation sites have been filled in or built over - they cannot be visited.
Contact: LWL Museum of Archaeology, Dr. Yasmine Freigang, tel. 0251 5907-267 or 0173 8301752, LWL Press Office, Markus Fischer, tel. 0251 591-235, e-mail: presse@lwl.org. Further sights in the town of Freudenberg
Photos: LWL Archaeology for Westfalen, Olpe branch office, Hermenn Menne