Forgotten heritage in the undergrowth

It is a kind of hidden limit: In the Winterthur brühl mountain forest, near the lookout, but off-the-field way, one encounters in the thicket on the part imposing the boundary stones. The moss-covered stones in a distance of about twenty meters. Some protrude about half a Meter from the Leaves, other only around twenty centimeters, and others are angled, or lying passed out on the forest floor. All the stones are engraved with the number from 59 to 70, then the trace is lost.

the stones are of shell sand steinkuben from the 19th century. Century, as the historian Thomas Specker says. The Zurich-based tracks since 2008, on behalf of the cantonal monument preservation historical boundary stones in the Canton of to you inventory. The historic preservation inventory plots of all historically valuable land, cantonal, and municipal boundary stones that were set prior to 1900 in Zurich soils. Also the stones in the brühl mountain forest has recorded Specker, 2013. The stones are on a longer plot border, believed to be the site of a forest Corporation. The border is also the border between the city's Association of 1922, the stand-alone municipalities Winterthur Wülflingen. "With stones greater Winterthur forest Corporation has vermarcht their limits," says Specker. Exceptionally, the objects were less due to her age as because of their large Size. This reflected "the great importance at that time, the forest had as a usable resource".

Everywhere in the Canton, also in the city of Zurich, are to be found in forests such old stones. Many municipalities have, according to Specker in the 19th century. Century marked their boundaries in the forest-consuming with March stones. A striking example about the Bülacher community forest boundary on the Rhinsberg.

The Dating of the stones is not always easy. Annual figures on the stones are rather rare. A rough assignment allows often the Material. Granite or gneiss was used mostly only after about 1900, tuff, rather, prior to 1800. Boundary stones from the often locally abundant shell sand-stone were more to the 19th century. Century.

In some Places in the Canton of border points were 20 to ins. Century marked also with Astschlingen. Also markings in tree bark.

For Specker are boundary stones as a "fascinating cultural heritage and a valuable witness to the history", he says. But the old stones are highly endangered. Not only because you will be advised of the nature, forgotten or collectors abgezügelt. But also, because they are not damaged by forestry machines or umgerammt.

recorded 2700 stones

The cantonal border stone inventory should contribute to especially valuable objects are preserved and, where necessary, protective measures have to be taken. So far, there have been inventoried according to Specker more than 2700 stones.

Now the inventory is being completed, as Markus Pfanner, spokesman for the Canton of Zurich building authority, says on request. "The surveys over the whole of the Canton to be completed in 2019. Except in the city of Zurich. Here is still not clear when the survey is completed." 2020, the Triage is the classification of the inter-municipal single objects or Ensembles, then the cantonal office for spatial development wants to put the inventory.

Up to now, eleven cutoff stones at the cantonal border in the inventory of the protection-worthy objects: Eglisau (built in 1596), fish contained (1823), RUTI (2 stones from 1632 and 1688), forest (no year), Laufen-Uhwiesen (4 stones, 1747, 1756, 1759 and 1781) and Masch walls (2 bricks of 1537).

According to Pfanner boundary stones as a historical witness of the cultural history and fall under the planning and building act. The unlawful removal of a boundary stone is regarded as a criminal offence and will be punished by the police. March stones were up to today as a valid symbol limit under a special protection, emphasizing landmark investigators Specker.

In previous centuries, the authorities took the protection much more seriously than it is today. Medieval law texts were for the moving of boundary stones draconian penalties comparable to those for Offences against life and limb.

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Created: 31.03.2019, 21:00 clock