Reric

• 1. The Search For A Lost Port

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  For decades, historians argued over the exact location of Reric. Some pointed to Oldenburg. Others suggested Lübeck or Mecklenburg Castle. A third group claimed Alt-Gaarz was the site, renaming it Rerik in 1938. The debate remained unresolved until the 1990s brought new evidence. University researchers and state archaeologists began excavating a specific spot near Groß Strömkendorf on the eastern shore of the Bay of Wismar. They dug into about 20 hectares of land between 1995 and 1999. Their findings confirmed that this archaeological site matched the historical descriptions of the lost emporium.

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• 2. Founding In Seven Thirty Five

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  Slavs from the Obodrite tribe settled the region around 735 AD. They established the port shortly after arriving in the area. The initial settlement sat north of where the later town would stand. Archaeologists found pottery types like tatting ware and shelly ware at the site. Sukow type pottery dominated the finds, used by West Slavs during the 8th century. Feldberg type pottery appeared too but in much smaller numbers. Imported goods from western countries were rare. This early phase shows a community building its first structures along the coast.

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• 3. Pottery And Craftsmen At Work

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  The settlement stretched 500 meters along the water. It covered at least 20 hectares of surface area. Excavators found sunken floor buildings similar to those at West Stow in England. Hoards of Norwegian schist whetstones lay scattered among the ruins. Evidence of textile work, iron working, and bronze working emerged from the soil. Unfinished products and garbage piles suggest local production of glass, metals, amber, and horn. No major industrial evidence exists, indicating items were made for immediate use rather than mass export. A deep water port allowed ships to dock directly near these workshops.

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• 4. Alliance With Charlemagne

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  At the turn of the 9th century, citizens of Reric formed an alliance with Charlemagne. The Frankish Empire used this port as part of a strategic trade route. This path avoided areas controlled by Saxons or Danes. The Royal Frankish Annals recorded that Danish king Gudfred received tribute from Reric in the years before 808 AD. The Franks allied with the Obodrites during ongoing warfare between Denmark and their empire. This political connection turned the small trading hub into a key node in northern European diplomacy. Nearby fortified strongholds like Mecklenburg and Ilow also rose in the early 8th century.

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• 5. The King Who Destroyed It

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  Danish king Gudfred ordered the destruction of the emporium in 808 AD. He took the merchants away from the site and resettled them in Hedeby. Hedeby sat closer to Denmark and was known as Haithabu or Sliasthorp. The event occurred while Gudfred fought against Charlemagne's forces. An Obodrite duke named Drazko was murdered at Reric the following year. This murder happened at the instigation of Gudfred himself. The violence marked the end of the original settlement phase. Trade routes shifted entirely toward the new Danish location after these events.

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• 6. Final Years And Last Dates

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  Archaeological dating confirms the timeline of the final years. The latest dateable wellwoods found in Reric come from 806, 809, and 811. A wooden structure dated to 811 suggests the settlement ceased to exist shortly after that year. The Royal Frankish Annals mention the destruction in 808 AD. Excavations since the 1990s perfectly match these historical records. The site remained abandoned for a short time before being fully deserted. No major industrial evidence exists, indicating items were made for local use only. The transition from active port to silent ruins happened within a single decade.

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