Moorweg im Aschener Moor, vorgeschichtlicher Moorweg östlich von Aschen im niedersächsischen Landkreis Diepholz
The Moorweg im Aschener Moor is a walking trail spanning approximately 11 kilometers through a flat, wet landscape of open bog. A modern boardwalk made from recycled plastic, built between 2019 and 2021, allows visitors to cross through the moor's center while a preserved section of the ancient wooden path demonstrates the archaeological discoveries from excavations.
The wooden path was built around 46 BC and ranks among the longest bog trackways in northern Germany, originally connecting settlements across the wet landscape. Though peat extraction destroyed many sections, excavations since 1817 have shown the route served mainly agricultural purposes, supported by animal bones and finds including a 2000-year-old leather shoe.
The path once served as a practical link connecting settlements and farming areas across the wetland. Today, visitors walk through this landscape aware that countless people traveled these routes in ancient times, making it a place where past and present overlap.
The route spans approximately 11 kilometers and takes roughly two and a half hours to walk, though the modern boardwalk offers shortcut options for those with limited time. Sturdy footwear is recommended due to soft and sometimes uneven ground, and visitors can walk in either direction or obtain a helpful map from the local tourism office.
A leather shoe over 2000 years old was discovered during excavations near the ancient path and is considered the oldest in northern Germany. This find reveals that people in antiquity regularly used these wet routes, likely losing the shoe during travel or an accident.
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