Langweiler (archaeological site)

The Langweiler archaeological site, located in the Merzbach Valley on the Aldenhovener Plateau in western Germany, is a significant Neolithic settlement dating from approximately 5300 to 4900 BCE. It comprises eight distinct settlement sites, including 160 houses, three enclosures, and a cemetery. The settlements reveal insights into early farming societies, characterized by single and clustered farmsteads with access to valley floors and terraces for agriculture. Houses varied in size, indicating a long-established cultural architecture norm with northwest/southeast orientation. The site also includes special enclosures used for community social or ritual activities. The findings challenge previous models of shifting agriculture, suggesting instead fixed plots and long-term field use. Langweiler offers a valuable window into the Bandkeramik era's domestic life, agricultural practices, and community structures.