Tausend Jahre Burg Hammerstein am Rhein -- Beobachtungen an den Mauerresten und Überlegungen zu einer zeitlichen Einordnung.

Hammerstein Castle, which is located on the lower reaches of the Middle Rhine, is one of the few castles anywhere on the Rhine whose existence was already documented in the early 11th century. By the time that it was besieged by the Holy Roman Emperor Henry II in 1120, it was clearly already a stronghold to be reckoned with, and one that even imperial forces were unable to take by storm and could bring under their control only by starving the garrison for months. Its owner at that time, Count Otto von Hammerstein, is mentioned in documents as early as 1002, which makes it seem likely that the castle was already in existence at the turn of the millennium. From 1020 to 1374, the castle remained in the hands of the Emperor, and for a time was used as a state prison, a repository for the imperial regalia and an administrative centre. In 1374, the Emperor transferred the fief to the Archbishop of Trier, who -- after it had been occupied by enemy forces during the Thirty Years War -- had it razed to the ground in 1654 to prevent any repetition. Since then, Hammerstein Castle has been a ruin, whose survival was further jeopardised by the removal of stone over subsequent centuries. Today, consequently, it is a fairly inconspicuous feature of the landscape, although some parts of the formerly very large complex (around 130 m long, parallel to the river) are still in existence, including extensive stretches of the curtain wall. For a long time now, the interior of the castle has consisted of nothing more than rubble covered with earth, with little to hint at its architectural structure. In order to gain at least some conception of the internal structure and architectural layout, extensive expert excavation would be required. In recent decades, particularly in the 1990s, the private owners have undertaken reconstruction and building projects in various parts of the castle (the gateway and the curtain wall on the east side, known as the Barbarossa Wall, for example). Not all of these projects have been executed with the benefit of expert advice or appropriately documented. This further complicates the already difficult task of interpreting the castle's development, particularly with regard to the more than 280 m long curtain wall. Particularly characteristic of Hammerstein Castle are the stretches of wall faced with basalt blocks around its northern half. It is not yet clear whether any of the remains date from the earliest phase, i.e. from the 11th century, and if so, which. Documents indicate that a major repair project began in 1071. The few above-ground remains of the almost square central part of the castle likewise include basalt blocks. As yet, there is no known basis for ascertaining the chronology of the complex, for example in the form of dendrodating. In the absence of a qualified archaeological survey, therefore, any precise statement about this must remain hypothetical at present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]