Sunken town reveals medieval church lost to the sea, uncovering its secrets
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Rungholt, which is submerged and frequently referred to as the "Atlantis of the North Sea," has long been a mystery. Rungholt, a settlement in the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site, was engulfed by the North Sea in a storm surge in 1362 A.D. The Wadden Sea is the biggest continuous system of intertidal sand and mud flats in the world, extending from the Netherlands to Germany.
Despite being long believed to be a local myth, recent finds offer conclusive proof of the drowned town's existence.
To find out more about Rungholt's past, a group of archaeologists from Kiel University, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, the Centre for Baltic and Scandinavian Archaeology, and the State Archaeology Department Schleswig-Holstein conducted a survey.
They thoroughly studied a mudflat area that was almost 4 square miles (10 square kilometers) using geophysical imaging techniques.
The significant medieval terps
Their efforts were rewarded when they came across a 1.2-mile (2-kilometer) long chain of medieval terps – man-made mounds used to defend villages from surges and high tide. The crew discovered the foundations of a substantial structure inside these terps that was thought to be the Rungholt church's remains and measured roughly 130 by 50 ft (40 by 15 meters).
“The find thus joins the ranks of the large churches of North Frisia," stated Dr. Bente Sven Majchczack, archaeologist in the ROOTS Cluster of Excellence at Kiel University in the U.K., said in a statement.
"Settlement remains hidden under the mudflats are first localized and mapped over a wide area using various geophysical methods such as magnetic gradiometry, electromagnetic induction, and seismics," added Dr Dennis Wilken, a geophysicist at Kiel University.
Rungholt's prosperous past and the catastrophic storm
According to historical records, Rungholt was formerly a prosperous trading harbor where traders exchanged fish, nets, and oysters. There were bars, brothels, street performers, inns, and other churches in the bustling city center.
However, the devastating storm known as "Grote Mandrenke" or "The Great Wind" in January 1362 A.D. drastically altered the city's fortunes. Rungholt was sunk as a result of the storm's devastation.
The storm's historical significance is furthered by the finding of tangible signs of its destruction. Even if the damage has been partially described in writing, the examination of Rungholt's remains reveals the long-lasting imprints that this catastrophic event has left behind.
The information illuminates the formerly prosperous community and helps refute the myth that Rungholt was just a creation of local legend.
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