23.02.2011

Exhibition and a new book explain excavations at the cathedralyard

Hildesheim (bph) When stones are speaking, they tell interesting things. Stories of the foundation of a cathedral at the river Innerste and the growing of a city for instance. As stones are not speaking at the most, you have to make them talk. An exhibition does that in the Hildesheim cathedral-library, but especially a new book with its title „Bernward's wall in Hildesheim“. The book was presented and appreciated at the exhibition's opening on Wednesday evening.

Bishop Norbert Trelle next to the book's author Dr. Helmut Brandorff, Dr. Henning Haßmann, statearchaeologist of Lower Saxony, dioceseconservator Prof. Dr. Karl Bernhard Kruse and Dr. Stefan Winghart, president of Lower Saxony's State Office of Historic Preservation, photo: bph

The Hildesheim cathedralyard presently is a treasure box for archaeologists. Because of the upcoming cathedral-restoration there is the rare opportunity to search the ground rigorously. And what was dugged out at the cathedral and St. Anthony's along with the surroundings, that's nothing to sneeze at: Bricks for example, which obvious bear the impress of saint bishop Bernward or a writing-styluses, both about a 1000 years old. You can visit these archaeological treasures with the title „When stones are speaking“ from now on till 27 May in the antechamber of the cathedral-library during the ordinary opening hours.

For all those, who find not enough information at the boards, you can read in more deeply into the theme with the book „Bernward's wall in Hildesheim“. This extensive book all at once is the dissertation of the archaeologist Dr. Helmut Brandorff, who edited the results of 25 years of researching. Since 1986 he explorates the early mediaeval wall of the saint bishop as well as the cathedral and St. Anthony's, in part together with the dioceseconservator Prof. Dr. Karl Bernhard Kruse. He officially began is dissertation in 1993 and already ended in 2000, but he could for various reasons only now –thoroughly overworked- publish the book. Intensely detailed and provided with numerous photos this book describes the current knowledge. For this great effort 200 guests acclaimed standing. It shall not be the last book of this character. Brandorff announced that after the end of the excavations in 2015, him together with the dioceseconservator wants to write a new book with in that case latest research results.

„You added on basic essentials to the previous state of research“, bishop Norbert Trelle spoke in high terms about Brandorff and Kruse in his speech. From the point of view of Dr. Stefan Winghart, president of Lower Saxony's State Office of Historic Preservation, the results cast an entirely new light on the history of the Carolingian kingdom. Both men is to owe, that the cathedral is one of the best explored churches at all. That they closed a research gab, Dr. Henning Haßmann, statearchaeologist at Loxer Saxony's State Office of Historic Preservation, confirmed as well. Dioceseconservator Kruse promised eventually, to educate the public about the research during the next years.

Information:
„When stones are speaking“,
exhibition in the Hildesheim cathedral-library, till 27 May 2011;
Helmut Brandorff: Die Bernwardsmauer in Hildesheim (Bernward's wall in Hildesheim)