Medieval Tunnel Discovered Inside a German Neolithic Burial Site
a day ago
- #Neolithic
- #medieval
- #archaeology
- Archaeologists discovered a medieval underground tunnel (Erdstall) within a Neolithic burial complex in Reinstedt, Germany.
- The Neolithic site dates back to the 4th millennium BCE and includes a trapezoidal ditch from the Baalberg culture.
- The Erdstall, a rare find in northern Germany, was initially mistaken for a grave but later identified as a tunnel system.
- The tunnel measures 1–1.25 meters in height and 50–70 cm in width, with a gable-shaped ceiling and a carved step at the entrance.
- Artifacts found inside include a horseshoe, medieval pottery fragments, a fox skeleton, and small mammal bones.
- The tunnel may have been used as a hiding place during conflicts or for ritual purposes.
- The discovery highlights the long-term reuse of ancient landscapes, from Neolithic rituals to medieval constructions.
- The site's significance lies in its layered history, showing how prehistoric monuments were reinterpreted by later societies.
- Ongoing research aims to understand medieval tunnel construction and the cultural importance of prehistoric sites in Central Europe.