700-year-old settlement was abandoned and forgotten in Germany. Now it’s rediscovered
In a town just north of Munich, Germany, construction began on the new home of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection.
When archaeologists dug into the ground, they weren’t met with empty soil. Instead, they found something that no one knew was there.
Hidden underground was a medieval settlement, according to an Aug. 6 news release from the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation.
Now, researchers are asking how the settlement was lost to history — and why it might have been abandoned in the first place.
As archaeologists uncovered the site, they discovered house plans, ovens, pit houses and earth cellars built from sometime in the ninth century to the 13th century, officials said.
The site gives researchers insights into how high medieval settlements were organized, according to the release, particularly what they centered their society around.
In this case, at the center of the settlement is the remains of a church, officials said.
The floor plan of the church as well as 20 burials were uncovered, according to the release. Some of the graves wrapped around the outside of the church, but others were found buried inside.
Burials inside the church were rare during this time period, deputy head of the department of archaeological monuments, Jochen Haberstroh, said in the release. These burials were reserved for high-ranking officials, he said, and their role in this community may help researchers better understand the founding years of nearby Munich.
Archaeologists said it appears that the site was abandoned or left behind around the year 1300, but it’s unclear why this happened.
Historical records helped researchers narrow down a possible name for the settlement: Wagrain.
Many early medieval settlements have likely been destroyed by construction activities, officials said, so finding one intact is rare.
The research team will analyze the site in the coming months before a foundation for the new office is laid in November, according to the release.
The site is located in Oberschleißheim district of Neuherberg, about a 12-mile drive north of downtown Munich.
Google Translate was used to translate the news release from the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation.
This story was originally published August 7, 2024 at 10:18 AM with the headline "700-year-old settlement was abandoned and forgotten in Germany. Now it’s rediscovered."
