Workshop Neolithic: Inviting Young Researchers
The megalithic tombs of the Funnelbeaker Culture constitute among the most important legacies of Neolithic communities in northern Germany. Their individual architecture and diverse grave goods reflect traditions at various levels. The study of these archaeological monuments thus provides insight into exchange relationships and social structures that existed at that time.
For this reason, the megalithic tombs of the Elbe-Weser Triangle region are currently the focus of the project "Between the Rivers and Against the Flood?" funded by zukunft.niedersachsen and hosted at the NIhK. During the collection of tomb data, it became apparent that a number of excavated sites remain unpublished. Archives of the district archaeology departments contain documentation and finds whose evaluation would provide important step stones for the study of the region. This idea gave rise to allowing these excavation sites to be evaluated within the framework of graduation theses and enabling this through a research workshop.
We therefore invite students from various universities to write their bachelor's or master's thesis on individual unpublished excavations at megalithic tombs of the Elbe-Weser Triangle. Within a four-week workshop at the NIhK, archival documents and finds can be reviewed, processed, and recorded. Lectures on the topic, introductions to the documentation systems NoNeK and SDS, as well as comprehensive supervision will be provided by NIhK staff. For this purpose, rooms and equipment will be made available. Students from abroad are explicitly welcome. It is planned to publish the results of the graduation theses as a collected volume. This offers young researchers the opportunity to build networks in the atmosphere of a modern interdisciplinary research institute.
Workshop period: September 7 - October 2, 2026
Location: Niedersächsisches Institut für historische Küstenforschung, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Participation limits: 10 persons
Accommodation is supported by the Werner-Brune-Stiftung and the NWDUG e.V. therefore free of charge including breakfast.
Contact: Dr. Moritz Mennenga (mennenga@nihk.de) Dr. Anja Behrens (behrens@nihk.de)