With the metal-detected finds our knowledge of the settlement complex enlarged
considerably: for many different object types – such as ornaments, coins and weights –
larger series are for the first time at our disposal. Besides a typical Scandinavian character
in manufacture (Figure 8. 2. 3 ), the continental influence on Hedeby is clearly visible
from the ninth century onwards.
Also, since 1952 different geophysical methods on sea and land have been used for
archaeological purposes (Stümpel and Borth-Hoffmann 1983 ; Utecht and Stümpel
1983 ; Kramer 1999 ). A new project of large-scale geophysical research started in 2002 ;
during fieldwork of three weeks a total of c. 29 ha inside and outside the semicircular
rampart was analysed by four teams from Kiel, Marburg, Munich and Vienna using
Fluxgate- and Caesium-magnetometer and ground-penetrating radar (Figure 8. 2. 4 ).
The different prospection methods applied in recent years have provided for the first
time new data for the whole settlement complex of Hedeby and its development
(Hilberg forthcoming).
Inside the rampart the density of anomalies is very high; in the outer surroundings
the situation is totally different. The northern part inside the semicircular rampart is
characterised in the magnetogram by parallel courses and many rectangular structures
with a high magneticism. According to investigations done with ground-penetrating
radar some of these structures possess a depth of up to 1. 7 – 1. 8 m and could therefore
be explained as sunken-featured buildings. Comparable pit-houses were excavated in the
surroundings. Schietzel collected from his surface-survey a high amount of iron slags in
this north-western part; it was concluded that iron was processed there (Schietzel 1981
Figure 8. 2. 2 Map showing finds of early medieval coins dated after c. 950 (found by metal-detecting).–– Volker Hilberg––