Beziehungsgeflechte im Frühen Mittelalter. Eine Fall Studie aus Basel

The burial sites scattered over the entire area of the canton Basel-Stadt represent the main archaeological source for the Early Middle Ages in Basel. Due to the great diversity in the grave goods and based on the interpretation of the antique written sources, the material has hitherto been interpreted ethnically, since the subdivision of the early medieval population into Romans, Alamans, Danubian-Suebi and Franks formed a basis for the interpretation. A new evaluation of the archaeological material based on the examination and reconstruction of networks using the distribution of brooch and belt types shall thus introduce new perspectives in the traditional narratives. This study showed that most of the interactions were locally or regionally determined and were focused on the High and Upper Rhine as well as in south-western Germany. Relations to the north – especially along the River Rhine – as well as with the Burgundian area also played an important role. Differences in the distribution (especially to the west or to the east) seem to be related not only to the chronology, but also specifically to the location of the burial sites on different transport and communication axes. Widespread influences appear to be decreasing over time, although these may be overlooked due to changes in burial practices.