Gab es applizierte Eberhauer und Hörner bei doppelköpfigen Tieren auf Baumsärgen?

Hinterfragung einer lang gehegten Forschungstradition

Abstract

The depiction of a two-headed beast lying along the middle of a coffin’s lid belongs to the strongly established body of thought on Merovingian tree trunk coffins with animal decoration. Horns or ears are supposed to sit on the heads and tusk-like teeth protrude from the jaws, all of which were inserted separately. This impression is based upon the initial publication of the cemetery at Oberflacht from 1847. Since there is no surviving, i. e. still tangible evidence for these appliqués, the conclusions of the initial publication and further related literature will be reappraised with regard to their coherence relating to the alleged insets. Following the analysis of the texts and illustrations, there are no irrevocable indications for horns or ears and tusk-like teeth on the animal heads. This is also true for an exclusive identification of the creatures as wild boars and the insertion of real boar-tusks in the animal heads.