Neuburg

In the 13th century, Freiburg was a boomtown, and towns exerted a magical attraction on people. Those who could leave the countryside moved to a neighboring town to earn their living and to consume their bread freely and securely behind its walls. Many free men wanted to be protected against the dangers of the open countryside.

They were followed by serfs, i.e., anyone who managed to escape from their bailiffs or lords. According to an old privilege from 1160, anyone who had lived in Freiburg for a year and one day without being claimed as an escaped serf would remain free in the future.

With Freiburg's population increasing, the town outgrew its narrow walls. People settled extra muros along the access roads so that, in case of danger, they could reach the town's protection quickly.

To remedy this misery, Count Konrad founded, in 1263, a suburb to the north of Freiburg's old town, near the outermost gate leading to Zähringen, calling it Neuburg. It was mainly craftsmen and small businesses such as potteries, blacksmiths, and carpenters who settled here.

The Sickinger Plan of 1589 shows the then-built-up and walled Neuburg
with St. Niclaus (2), Teutsch Hauß* (11), Arm Spital (12),
Blatterhaus (13), St. Michael (14), and St. Clara (16)
*Already in 1263, Count Konrad donated estates in Neuburg to the Teutonic Knights.

Soon, an imposing church dedicated to St. Nicholas adorned the suburb of Neuburg.

During Operation Tigerfish on November 22, 1944, aerial bombs reduced Neuburg to rubble. After the war, the district was rapidly rebuilt.

Meanwhile, in many parts of Neuburg, the post-war buildings were replaced by new developments with underground parking.

Presently, the area at the intersection of Albertstraße and Habsburgerstraße is being prepared
for the construction of the new Oberfinanzschule (Higher Finance School).

Whenever they dig deep, enter Dr. Bertram Jenisch with his team.

They dug out a tiny ceramic head.

The head is crowned with a Gugel (hood), a garment worn not only today, but also in the Middle Ages.

Psalter around 1180: Winegrowers in March

Two fools with hoods
Psalter of Jutta of Luxembourg, circa 1248

Here is the site where the Köpfchen was found.

The excavation site:
Blue > Medieval pits and kilns
Dark gray > Walls of medieval buildings
Light Gray > Medieval cellars

That was not all. The archaeologists dug up clay figurines. 

With the many medieval wooden structures in densely populated towns, fires were particularly feared. It can therefore be assumed that fire-intensive professions, such as potters with their kilns, settled in the less densely populated Neustadt district.

A possible excavated kiln

In addition, the excavations suggest that there was a common open area (Allmende* see the slide above) between two rows of houses. Pits were found there where kilns had stood. 

*So far Red Baron knew Allmende as being a common land to pasture cattle, horses, sheep or other animals

The dug-out clay female figurines are of particular interest, as similar objects are found in southwestern Germany and are dated to the 13th and early 14th centuries.

Were those figurines produced in Freiburg? Physical and chemical analyses of the scattered finds nearby may provide answers. It all remains exciting.

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