The Baalbergian Roundel Belleben I in the Context of Enclosures of the Funnel Beaker Culture in Central Germany - Genesis, Function and Social Significance

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The current project aims to illuminate closely the entirely excavated roundel Belleben I in the context of the central German ditched enclosures of the early Funnel Beaker period. Within the bounds of investigation not only a detailed picture of the monuments structure will be obtained, as well as clarifying their genesis, function and social significance in the context of the Funnel Beaker phenomenon.This requires first of all an intensive structural analysis of the site. Concerning this, detailed analyses of the finds and features have to be carried out and related to each other by means of statistical and geostatistical procedures. Results obtained by this will be compared with data collected from contemporary roundels and non-circular enclosures from the micro-region around Belleben. In addition other kinds of sites such as hilltop sites and burials will be taken into account and spatially analysed in a GIS programme along with the category of ditched enclosures.Besides this synchronous comparison within the baalbergian horizon a further step aims to work out by means of example differences and similarities of enclosures of the Michelsberg, Salzmünde and Bernburg Culture in a diachronic approach. The above mentioned steps are the basis for synthesis and modelling. Beyond this, different theoretical approaches from sciences such as history of religion, history of sport, sociology and ethnography should be taken into account and connected with the archaeological record. At the end of the project new scientific discoveries can be expected concerning the significance of roundels in general and their function in the differentiation processes during the early Funnel Beaker period in particular.