Construction works by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) have led to the discovery of a lost medieval village in Munich, Germany.
Excavations have revealed traces of several medieval houses, ovens, pit houses, earthen cellars, human burials, and a church with a recessed apse.
Preliminary dating suggest that the village was occupied around the 9th to 13th century AD, and appears to have been abandoned sometime during the early 14th century.
Although the cause of the abandonment is speculated at this time, it does coincide with the arrival of the Black Death in parts of Southern Germany and Austria.
Archaeologists plan to study the burials in hopes of determining if an outbreak wiped out an entire generation of villagers.
Additionally, an analysis of soil samples from the strata, corresponding to the time of abandonment, will further help reveal whether environmental factors played a role instead.
According to a press statement from the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation (BLfD), there were no indications of an abandoned settlement or church in the area before BfS began their construction work.
After studying historical maps and contemporary sources, the researchers now suggest that the village might have been called “Wagrain”, which was located in the modern day Oberschleissheim district.
Dr. Jochen Haberstroh from the BLfD, said “The discovery of this settlement helps us to better understand the history of the region at the time of the founding of Munich.”
After the archaeological work has been completed, a new building for the Munich branch of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) will be constructed.
Header Image Credit : BLfD
Sources : Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation
