The End of Alamannic Princely Forts and the Supposed Merovingian Hegemony
Ross Samson
This paper summarises German archaeologists' interpretation of hillfort occupation and abandonment in south-western Germany from the fifth to ninth centuries AD. It argues against dominant belief that ended around AD 500 it was related Merovingian conquest. The archaeological changes enumerated by Konrad Weidemann are shown be fortuitous, illusionary, or wrong date, while strongest contacts archaeologically documented continued with northern (Gothic then Lombardic) Italy. hegemony is argued have had little impact on Alamannic lordship. lack coinage, diocesan monastic church organisation, royal estates east Rhine during period taken as proof a less 'advanced' form Changes lordship Carolingian finally suggested parallels Scotland, where hillforts much like Runder Berg were abandoned for 'manors' villae/curtes they appear documents.
Journal of European archaeology