Vipiteno

Commenda dell’Ordine Teutonico
(p.f. 436 and 437)

During restoration works for the eastern internal courtyard of the Commenda dell'Ordine Teutonico (Teutonic Order Commenda) various parts of external walls remains have been found throughout the area underneath a modern age stratum. The eastern part, towards St. Elizabeth's church, is separated from the rest of the courtyard by a boundary area. Two medieval tombstones have been found in this area, two burials, human bones scattered everywhere and close to the boundary wall, two additional walls. We may be looking at structures, maybe related to the first hospice, probably the cemetery and a chapel used for pilgrims. In 1241, Hugo von Taufers founded the first hospice, which was later passed on to the control of the Commenda dell'Ordine Teutonico in 1254. The tombstone can with all likelihood also be dated to the Middle Ages (XIII century). One of the two burials, characterised by a stone structure, was dug in the middle of the boundary area. A skeleton was found inside the burial, which according to preliminary analysis should belong to a 55-60 year old man, 1.55m tall. His endowment was a simple wooden cross. Outside the boundary area, in the eastern part, another wall was discovered in the western part of the courtyard, between the boundary wall of the internal courtyard and the current hospice building. In the north-western area of the courtyard yet another part of wall was identified, which from a stratigraphic analysis however seems to be more recent than the other buildings. Throughout the courtyard, all the walls lay on grey soil, swampy, partly peaty and not particularly deep, as the ground water level is high in this area. From a survey carried out in the boundary area, very well preserved quadrangular pieces of wood beams were identified, these were probably acting as supports for the foundations of the walls. The area of the excavation was later filled, thus preserving the structures. Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano-Alto Adige Tutela dei Beni Culturali 2007. Annuario 2005/2006 pp 291-922.