• 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

Over 1,000 artifacts unearthed during German church renovation

by Dario Radley
February 5, 2025

Excavations conducted between June 2022 and September 2023 at St. Mary’s Church in Gardelegen have uncovered more than 1,000 artifacts dating back seven centuries. The findings were made during an excavation aimed at installing underfloor heating in the Gothic-style church.

Over 1,000 centuries-old artifacts unearthed during German church renovation
The excavation in St. Mary’s Church revealed coins from various centuries. Credit: State Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, Anika Tauschensky

St. Mary’s Church was built in the 13th century and features a large hall with high-vaulted ceilings and beautiful stained-glass windows. The church has retained its medieval appearance despite being renovated several times over the centuries. The recent excavation covered an area of 145 square meters of the original wooden floor to a depth of about 40 centimeters.

Among the most significant finds was a hoard of 679 coins and coin fragments, many of which were heavily corroded. A numismatist, Horst Konietzko of Salzwedel, helped identify and date them. The first batch of coins was scanned and integrated into the S.E.S.A.M. project database, an initiative for systematically recording historical coins in Saxony-Anhalt. Other artifacts recovered included dress pins, book clasps, ceramics, animal bones, and glass shards, some decorated in black enamel, iron nails, and traces of plants. Personal items for everyday use like tweezers and beads were also uncovered.

One of the most intriguing finds was an 8-centimeter-tall monkey figurine made of lead bronze. Discovered in the nave of the church by volunteer Ralf Schulze, the artifact has sparked a dispute among researchers regarding its symbolism. Experts remain uncertain whether the monkey is holding a drinking horn or a wind instrument.

Over 1,000 centuries-old artifacts unearthed during German church renovation
One of the most intriguing finds was an 8-centimeter-tall monkey figurine made of lead bronze. Credit: State Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, Friederike Hertel

According to the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, depictions of monkeys in churches are not unusual. “They are often shown playing board games, making music, imitating humans, or entangled in vines and loops,” said the office in a statement. “During the late Middle Ages, they were increasingly regarded as demonic creatures and as caricatures of sinful, immoral human behavior.”

RelatedStories

Lost medieval town of Hamarkaupangen rediscovered in Norway after years of searching

Lost medieval town of Hamarkaupangen rediscovered in Norway after years of searching

July 9, 2025
Rare medieval knight tombstone discovered in heart of Gdańsk

Rare medieval knight tombstone discovered in heart of Gdańsk

July 7, 2025

The excavation at St. Mary’s Church underscores the crucial role of archaeological research in preserving historical monuments. Moreover, the involvement of volunteers is extremely helpful in this undertaking, and the state of Saxony-Anhalt has a large knowledge base of experts working very closely with the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology.

More information: State Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt

Share3Tweet2ShareShareSend

You May Also Like...

1,600-year-old tomb of Caracol’s founding king Te K’ab Chaak unearthed in Belize jungle
Anthropology

1,600-year-old tomb of Caracol’s founding king Te K’ab Chaak unearthed in Belize jungle

July 12, 2025
11,000-year-old feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains reveals long-distance animal transport and early Neolithic social rituals
Archaeology

11,000-year-old feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains reveals long-distance animal transport and early Neolithic social rituals

July 12, 2025
UNESCO adds Iran’s Khorramabad Valley to World Heritage List, highlighting 60,000 years of human history
Anthropology

UNESCO adds Iran’s Khorramabad Valley to World Heritage List, highlighting 60,000 years of human history

July 12, 2025
5,500-year-old 'Polish pyramids' discovered in western Poland reveal Neolithic engineering
Anthropology

5,500-year-old ‘Polish pyramids’ discovered in western Poland reveal Neolithic engineering

July 11, 2025
17th-century Gullberg’s fortress in Gothenburg brought to life through 3D reconstruction
Archaeology

17th-century Gullberg’s fortress in Gothenburg brought to life through 3D reconstruction

July 11, 2025
Neanderthals turned cave lion bones into multifunctional tools 130,000 years ago, study reveals
Anthropology

Neanderthals turned cave lion bones into multifunctional tools 130,000 years ago, study reveals

July 10, 2025

Comments 3

  1. Editorial Team says:
    56 years ago
    Disclaimer: This website is a science-focused magazine that welcomes both academic and non-academic audiences. Comments are written by users and may include personal opinions or unverified claims. They do not necessarily reflect the views of our editorial team or rely on scientific evidence.
    Reply
  2. Dan says:
    5 months ago

    Monkey is blowing a war horn

    Reply
  3. Brad says:
    5 months ago

    (Past history, often tells )SUCH), A fascinating story, of past/previous lives lived ! From the coins, we learn the monetary systems used, what the coins were,(sometimes), where minted,and of whom / by whom was in power, trading between kingdoms /countries. From jewelry,personal effects,the craftsmanship,the quality of the craftsmen at the time, the materials used and also, sometimes the location, of where they were made ! ALL, of which provide an interesting education !

    Reply
  4. fsurfer says:
    5 months ago

    As for the monkey, my opinion is it’s a beer drinking horn.
    In the article it says ‘they were increasingly regarded as demonic creatures and as caricatures of sinful, immoral human behavior.”
    Context is everything. I could be wrong though. But the association of sinful behaviour and monkeys seems to indicate a drinking horn.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow us


Instagram
247K

Facebook
110K

Threads
43K

LinkedIn
12K

Twitter
6K

YouTube
1K
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Shipwreck Salvage. Credit: rawpixel.com / Public Domain

2,000-year-old shipwreck discovered off Turkish coast with remarkably preserved stacked ceramics

July 2, 2025
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
Neanderthals operated prehistoric “fat factory” 125,000 years ago on German lakeshore, study finds

Neanderthals operated prehistoric “fat factory” 125,000 years ago on German lakeshore

July 3, 2025
Exceptionally large Roman shoes discovered at Magna fort near Hadrian’s Wall

Exceptionally large Roman shoes discovered at Magna fort near Hadrian’s Wall

July 3, 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
$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

1,600-year-old tomb of Caracol’s founding king Te K’ab Chaak unearthed in Belize jungle

1,600-year-old tomb of Caracol’s founding king Te K’ab Chaak unearthed in Belize jungle

July 12, 2025
11,000-year-old feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains reveals long-distance animal transport and early Neolithic social rituals

11,000-year-old feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains reveals long-distance animal transport and early Neolithic social rituals

July 12, 2025
UNESCO adds Iran’s Khorramabad Valley to World Heritage List, highlighting 60,000 years of human history

UNESCO adds Iran’s Khorramabad Valley to World Heritage List, highlighting 60,000 years of human history

July 12, 2025
5,500-year-old 'Polish pyramids' discovered in western Poland reveal Neolithic engineering

5,500-year-old ‘Polish pyramids’ discovered in western Poland reveal Neolithic engineering

July 11, 2025
17th-century Gullberg’s fortress in Gothenburg brought to life through 3D reconstruction

17th-century Gullberg’s fortress in Gothenburg brought to life through 3D reconstruction

July 11, 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.