Scientific analysis has confirmed that a cemetery uncovered during archaeological excavations in the German municipality of Altenberge dates to the Early Middle Ages, providing the first definitive evidence that the site of St John the Baptist Church has been used for Christian worship and burial for over a millennium.
The discovery was made during archaeological investigations carried out alongside sewer renovation works around the Catholic parish church of St John the Baptist in Altenberge, North Rhine-Westphalia. Excavations in autumn 2025 revealed a number of burials that archaeologists believed could date to the medieval period.
That theory has now been confirmed following radiocarbon dating undertaken by a specialist laboratory in Vilnius, Lithuania. Analysis of four bone samples found the burials date from between the 8th and early 11th centuries, placing them firmly within the Early Middle Ages.
Historians have long suspected that Altenberge’s church site was established during the early Christianisation of the region. The new scientific evidence provides the first definitive confirmation of those theories.
“The circumstances of the discovery suggested we were dealing with an early cemetery. The radiocarbon dating now clearly confirms this,” said excavation director Christian Golüke, who led the archaeological investigations.
During the excavation, archaeologists documented 11 west-east orientated graves. Because the work was limited to areas affected by the sewer replacement project, the burials could not be fully excavated. However, the skeletal remains were exceptionally well preserved, allowing specialists to obtain reliable samples for analysis.
Radiocarbon dating measures the decay of the radioactive isotope carbon-14 within organic material, enabling scientists to estimate when a person or living organism died.
According to Dr Andreas Wunschel, archaeologist with the Westphalia-Lippe Regional Association (LWL), the results represent an important breakthrough.
“The findings are of great scientific significance. Based on written records and previous investigations, we believed the church site originated in the Early Middle Ages. We can now confirm this scientifically.”
Researchers believe the church was originally founded by Saint Liudger, the first Bishop of Münster and founder of Werden Abbey, who died in AD 809. It is thought to have been established on the site of a bishop’s estate during the Christianisation of the region.
At the time, parish churches served as the social and religious centres of rural communities, with churchyards becoming the principal burial grounds for local populations. The newly dated cemetery therefore provides valuable insight into the origins and early development of Altenberge.
The archaeological investigations have uncovered more than just early medieval graves. In 2024, researchers also discovered the remains of a substantial rubble-stone cellar, which ceramic finds indicate was in use during the 13th century.
Local officials say the discoveries have added an unexpected historical dimension to the infrastructure project.
“The work around the town hall and church square is an important investment in Altenberge’s future,” said Sebastian Nebel of the municipality of Altenberge. “The fact that it is also providing new insights into the origins of our village is an enormous benefit.”
The findings offer one of the clearest pieces of archaeological evidence yet for Altenberge’s early medieval origins, helping to build a more complete picture of how the settlement developed over a millennium ago.
Sources : LWL Archaeology for Westphalia
