An erdstall is a type of tunnel found in many places across Europe. The origin of these tunnels is unknown. However, experts believe they were built during the Middle Ages. People have guessed many different uses for them, such as escape routes or hiding places. The most popular idea is that they were used for religious or spiritual reasons.

Etymology

The word Erdstall comes from the medieval period in Germany, known as Middle High German. It combines the words "Erde," meaning "earth," and either "Stelle," meaning "place," or "Stollen," meaning "mineshaft." There are very few old records about this term. One document from the year 1449 refers to the area above tunnels as "auf den erdstelln."

Other names for this term in different regions include "schratzlloch" in Bavaria, "zwergloch," and "grufen" in Austria.

Construction

Erdstalls are very low and narrow. They are between 1.0 to 1.4 meters (3 feet 3 inches to 4 feet 7 inches) tall and no more than about 60 centimeters (24 inches) wide. They have tight passages that connect one tunnel to a lower tunnel called a "schlupf" (slip out). These passages are usually very narrow and too small for some people to pass through easily. To move from the lower tunnel to the higher tunnel, a person must crawl under the slip hole and then stand up to move their shoulders through.

There is only one hidden entrance, and no second exit tunnel, unlike some other escape tunnel systems. Some tunnel systems have loop tunnels at the end of a main tunnel. Most tunnel systems are no longer than 50 meters (160 feet).

In his 2000 publication Die Regional-Typisierung der Erdställe, Herbert Wimmer created a basic classification system to describe different types of erdstalls.

Archaeology

There are very few remains found in the tunnels, even though many erdstall tunnels exist in Central Europe, with over 700 located in Bavaria. This suggests it is unlikely that the tunnels were ever used as homes or shelters during times of war.

Because there is so little archaeological evidence, it is difficult to determine how old the tunnels are. Coal from a fire pit in Bad Zell has been dated to between the years 1030 and 1210. Coal from a tunnel entrance in Höcherlmühle has been dated to between the late 10th century and the mid-11th century. A narrow passage at Rot am See was made narrower by adding stones, and these stones have been dated to between 1034 and 1268. Coal from Trebersdorf was dated to between 950 and 1050, and coal from Kühlried was dated to between 950 and 1160. Ceramics found in St. Agatha have been dated to the 12th century, which appears to be the most recent time the tunnels were used.

Museums

Most Erdstall sites are too narrow to be suitable for visitors. A larger area that people can walk through is the Erdstall Ratgöbluckn in Perg (Upper Austria), which is open to the public and part of the local museum. The Erdstall am Kapellenberg in Großkrut (Lower Austria) was opened in 2007 for visitors of the Erdstallmuseum Althöflein.