• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Archaeology News
  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum
Archaeology News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Archaeology

Archaeologists unearth medieval farmsteads and Iron Age finds in Werne, Germany

by Dario Radley
March 31, 2024

Archaeologists from the Westphalia-Lippe Regional Association (LWL) have unearthed remnants of early medieval farmsteads and Iron Age burials over the course of excavations spanning a 7.5-hectare area near the town of Werne in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Archaeologists unearth medieval farmsteads and Iron Age finds in Werne, Germany
Credit: LWL/E. Cichy

The excavation, initiated in January 2023, revealed traces of a settlement outside Werne, with residential buildings dating back to around 867 CE, according to a news release from the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe.

These structures, including barns and sunken-featured buildings, were arranged around a central farmstead and separated by ditches. The discovery of a well further aided in dating the site, with dendroarchaeological analysis indicating a construction date of approximately 867 CE, aligning with the time of Louis the German’s reign.

Dr. Thorsten Westphal, head of the dendroarchaeology laboratory at the University of Cologne, remarked on the significance of the well’s construction date, stating, “A felling date of the tree of 867 +/- ten years could be determined.” This finding underscores the importance of the site during the late 9th century CE.

Archaeologists unearth medieval farmsteads and Iron Age finds in Werne, Germany
Credit: LWL/F. Geldsetzer

The location, situated on the edge of the Lippe floodplain, likely supported a dense population of farms during the medieval period. Excavation leader Christopher Otto noted that similar settlements existed nearby, with one discovered over a century ago just west of the current site. However, challenges arose during the excavation process, particularly in February when heavy rains inundated the area, requiring the use of pumps to continue the work.

RelatedStories

Hidden treasures uncovered during A47 roadworks reveal secrets of Norfolk’s past

Hidden artifacts uncovered during A47 roadworks reveal secrets of Norfolk’s past

June 24, 2025
Sinkhole in York uncovers remains of medieval St Leonard’s Hospital, one of northern England’s largest

Sinkhole in York uncovers remains of medieval St Leonard’s Hospital, one of northern England’s largest

June 22, 2025

Despite these obstacles, the archaeologists made a surprising discovery: ancient graves dating back to the Iron Age, nearly 1,000 years earlier than the medieval settlement. The graves contained cremated remains, indicative of burial practices during the late Iron Age, along with grave goods and remnants of funeral pyres. This unexpected find suggests the possibility of an older settlement buried beneath or in proximity to the medieval site, prompting further investigation.

Dr. Eva Cichy, an archaeologist with LWL, emphasized the importance of the botanical material preserved in the well, stating, “Due to the high groundwater level, even finely divided botanical material such as leaves and small twigs was preserved.”

As the excavation continues, researchers remain hopeful that further discoveries will provide answers to lingering questions about the area’s history. The researchers noted, “Whether traces of a settlement from the same period can be found is one of the many questions to which we hope to find answers through further excavation progress.”

ShareTweetShareShareSend

You May Also Like...

Hidden treasures uncovered during A47 roadworks reveal secrets of Norfolk’s past
Archaeology

Hidden artifacts uncovered during A47 roadworks reveal secrets of Norfolk’s past

June 24, 2025
Lost Tiwanaku temple unearthed in Bolivia reveals ancient Andes trade and ritual network
Archaeology

Lost Tiwanaku temple unearthed in Bolivia reveals ancient Andes trade and ritual network

June 24, 2025
Genetic study reveals the origin and diversity of the Huns
Archaeology

European Huns were not of Turkic origin but had ancient Siberian roots, linguistic study reveals

June 24, 2025
Viking Age burial near Aarhus linked to Harald Bluetooth’s noble allies unearthed in Denmark
Anthropology

Viking Age burial near Aarhus unearthed with ties to Harald Bluetooth’s noble allies

June 23, 2025
1,000-year-old pre-Inca mummy linked to Chancay culture unearthed during gas work in Lima
Anthropology

1,000-year-old pre-Inca mummy linked to Chancay culture unearthed during gas work in Lima

June 23, 2025
New study confirms ancient human footprints in New Mexico date back 23,000 years
Anthropology

New study confirms ancient human footprints in New Mexico date back 23,000 years

June 22, 2025

Follow us


Instagram
247K

Facebook
108K

Threads
42K

LinkedIn
12K

Twitter
6K

YouTube
1K
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

May 18, 2025
Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

May 28, 2025
Viking-era boat burial unearthed in Norway reveals 1,100-year-old remains of woman and her dog

Viking-era boat burial unearthed in Norway reveals 1,100-year-old remains of woman and her dog

June 9, 2025
6,200-year-old ‘cone-headed’ skull found in Iran reveals cranial modification and death by blunt force

6,200-year-old ‘cone-headed’ skull found in Iran reveals cranial modification and death by blunt force

June 13, 2025
Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

May 17, 2025
$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius' eruption

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius’ eruption

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado's expedition

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado’s expedition

Hidden treasures uncovered during A47 roadworks reveal secrets of Norfolk’s past

Hidden artifacts uncovered during A47 roadworks reveal secrets of Norfolk’s past

June 24, 2025
Lost Tiwanaku temple unearthed in Bolivia reveals ancient Andes trade and ritual network

Lost Tiwanaku temple unearthed in Bolivia reveals ancient Andes trade and ritual network

June 24, 2025
Genetic study reveals the origin and diversity of the Huns

European Huns were not of Turkic origin but had ancient Siberian roots, linguistic study reveals

June 24, 2025
Viking Age burial near Aarhus linked to Harald Bluetooth’s noble allies unearthed in Denmark

Viking Age burial near Aarhus unearthed with ties to Harald Bluetooth’s noble allies

June 23, 2025
1,000-year-old pre-Inca mummy linked to Chancay culture unearthed during gas work in Lima

1,000-year-old pre-Inca mummy linked to Chancay culture unearthed during gas work in Lima

June 23, 2025

Archaeology News online magazine

Archaeology News is an international online magazine that covers all aspects of archaeology.











Categories

  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • Download
  • Game
  • News
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Paleontology
  • Quiz
  • Tours

Subscribe to our newsletter

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum

About  .  Contact  .  Donation

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to improve your experience and enable functionality and security of this site. Further detail is available in our Privacy Policy. By accepting all cookies, you consent to our use of cookies and use of data.