In Poseidon's Realm XXIX – The Cultural Heritage at and in Lake Constance

The 2024 DEGUWA conference In Poseidon's Realm XXIX – The Cultural Heritage at and in Lake Constance took place from May 6 to May 13 at the Vorarlberg Museum in Bregenz, Austria. Just as diverse as the tri-border region around Lake Constance, so too was the conference program.

Monday: Sonar Course Introduction

The week began with a sonar course (NAS-II course), introducing participants to the underwater world of Lake Constance. Attendees received training in operating sonar, interpreting sonar images, and identifying ship types specific to the lake—an essential skill for correctly classifying objects.

This newly acquired knowledge was immediately applied to two shipwrecks, the Jura and a Segner. The subsequent verification dive was also a success. Special thanks go to the Office of Archaeology of the Canton of Thurgau, whose permission made the course possible.

Tuesday: Excursion to Canton Thurgau

On Tuesday, the accompanying program took participants to the Canton of Thurgau. The team at Schloss Arbon Museum presented the castle's history and its exhibition on 5,500 years of human settlement around Lake Constance. Following this, archaeologists from the Office of Archaeology introduced the Hügeli near Kesswil—a chain of about 170 small mounds along the Swiss lakeshore, also found on the German and Austrian sides. These mounds have sparked ongoing debate and media attention, but their true purpose was to be revealed in the keynote lecture on Saturday, where the latest research findings would be presented. The day concluded with a visit to the Seemuseum in Kreuzlingen.

Wednesday: Archaeology in Constance and Hemmenhofen

Wednesday's program took participants to the Archaeological State Museum of Baden-Württemberg in Constance, which showcased the region's long and varied maritime history. Numerous waterborne and land-based finds illustrated ship types, fishing techniques, and the lake's significance throughout the ages. At the State Office for Monument Preservation in Hemmenhofen, the laboratory for dendrochronology provided insights into dating methods based on tree-ring analysis and biological examinations.

Thursday: Conference Kickoff and Museum Tour

On Thursday morning, the first lectures set the stage for the conference, focusing on different pile-dwelling settlements—an apt topic given the conference location. Later, the team from the Vorarlberg Museum offered a tour of their extensive collection. The official conference opening took place in the evening with a poster presentation.

Friday: Excursion to Vorarlberg

The conference continued with more presentations on Friday morning. In the afternoon, participants explored the Vorarlberg region, where Austrian colleagues from the Federal Monuments Office introduced significant archaeological sites: the Neolithic finds of Rheinbalme, the Roman villa of Rankweil-Brederis, and the ruins of Neuburg Castle—each an impressive testament to the area's rich history.

Saturday & Sunday: Lectures and Keynote Speech

Saturday and Sunday featured a broad range of lectures covering archaeological and historical projects related to water, both above and below the surface.

One of the conference's annual highlights is the keynote lecture followed by the evening reception. This year, the much-debated mystery of the Hügeli was finally solved—according to current research, they were used for fishing.

The final presentations on Sunday concluded yet another fascinating and informative conference.

Farewells were heartfelt, and we eagerly anticipate In Poseidon's Realm XXX, set to take place in Würzburg in 2025.