Gross Raden
Archäologisches Freilichtmuseum Groß Raden — Tempelburg · Gross Raden Slavic Temple Fort · Archäologisches Freilichtmuseum Groß Raden · Groß Raden Tempelburg
Early Medieval Slavic 850–1000 (Warnower–Obotrite)·Slavic Warnower/Obotrite (Mecklenburg pagan lake temple)·🇩🇪 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Ludwigslust-Parchim District, Gross Raden village 8 km north Sternberg on Rader See (Dobbertin–Sternberg lakes) Mark Brandenburg lake island fort, Germany
About
About Gross Raden
Gross Raden (Groß Raden Archäologisches Freilichtmuseum) — Slavic island temple-fort (9th–10th c, Slavic rondel 9th c, peak 900–1000) on Rader See lake island 8 km north Sternberg, Mecklenburg lake plateau. Excavated E. Schuldt: elliptical ringfort 40×30 m island timber-earth with 12-sided temple building 12×9 m (Groß Raden temple — central Slavic pagan sanctuary in lake, compared Arkona Svantevit), causeway 35 m timber to shore, outer settlement 1 ha with post houses, Slavic pottery Feldberg type. Reconstructed open-air museum with temple. Mecklenburg Warnower–Obotrite tribal centre before German Ostsiedlung. Slavic rondel sanctuary.
Why it mattersMecklenburg lake island pagan temple — 12-sided 12×9 m temple on 40×30 m ring Gross Raden
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 0112 sides — zodiac or clan?
Theories
- 01Lake island pagan rondel parallel Arkona
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.850–900 island ring 9th c temple 12×9 m; settlement 9th–10th c
- Period
- Early Medieval Slavic 850–1000 (Warnower–Obotrite)
- Culture
- Slavic Warnower/Obotrite (Mecklenburg pagan lake temple)
- Builders
- Warnower Slav lake-temple builders (Rader See island rondel)
- Purpose
- Rader See 40×30 m island pagan temple ringfort controlling Mecklenburg lake plateau
- Abandoned
- c.1000 (Christianisation–German Ostsiedlung)
- Rediscovered
- 1970s E. Schuldt Rader See excavations
- Excavation
- Excavated
850 CE
Rader See island temple 12×9 m 12-sided founding
900 CE
Outer settlement 1 ha causeway 35 m timber
1970s
Schuldt reveals 12-sided pagan sanctuary
On the ground
Structures & features
53.7300° N · 11.8800° E · 40 m · 3 mapped features
12-Sided Pagan Temple 12×9 m
templeElliptical 12-sided oak temple 12×9 m on 40×30 m island ring — Slavic pagan sanctuary
53.7305° N · 11.8805° EIsland Ring 40×30 m
ringfortLake island timber-earth ring 40×30 m with Rader See moat
53.7295° N · 11.8790° ETimber Causeway 35 m
causewayOak causeway 35 m timber linking island ring to shore settlement 1 ha
53.7310° N · 11.8810° E
Gallery