The bread offering from the Ipweger Moor – or why the prehistoric wagons were not destroyed by fire

Abstract

In the Ipweger Moor, northeast of the town Oldenburg, a part of a wooden walkway from around 713/712BC – on the verge to destruction – was examined in 1989. In due course immediately beneath the blanks an object was rescued which was interpreted as bread for its shape and the remains of cereal showing on its surface. Further analyses demonstrated that it was bees wax and prompted the reading of the object as bread imitation intended for sacrifices to the gods. In the presented study this interpretation has been reviewed. Upon the consideration of all findings a com pletely different reading has been found basing on a very realistic background.