Archaeologists excavating land earmarked for the expansion of an industrial park in central Germany have uncovered new evidence of a long-abandoned medieval settlement, including rows of sunken buildings, wells and an elaborate system of ditches.
The excavations are taking place at the “Am Frevelgraben” site on the eastern outskirts of Halberstadt in Saxony-Anhalt, where archaeologists have confirmed the presence of a medieval deserted settlement — a community that was ultimately abandoned by its inhabitants.
Despite the remarkable preservation of the settlement itself, researchers have encountered an unusual mystery: its former residents appear to have taken almost everything with them.
Only a small number of ceramic fragments and metal objects have been recovered, suggesting the settlement may have been abandoned in an unusually organised manner.
Medieval Settlement Discovered Ahead of Development
The investigation is being conducted by the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology of Saxony-Anhalt in coordination with the city of Halberstadt, ahead of further development of the city’s “East” industrial park.
The site lies near Gessnerstraße, south of the Frevelgraben, a former watercourse that has since been straightened.
Archaeologists already knew the wider landscape was historically significant. People lived in the area for centuries and also used parts of it to bury their dead.
Before construction work began, geophysical surveys revealed evidence of a medieval settlement beneath the ground. The surveys identified sections of a complex, multi-part ditch enclosure as well as numerous archaeological features within it.
Excavations have been under way since March, allowing researchers to investigate the buried settlement in much greater detail.
“The archaeological finds at Frevelgraben give us a fascinating insight into the history of our city and show once again how many traces of past generations can still be found in Halberstadt’s soil today,” Mayor Daniel Szarata said.
He added that archaeological investigation would allow the city to continue developing the industrial park while ensuring historically important evidence was properly recorded and preserved.
Rows of Medieval Buildings Revealed
Among the most important discoveries is the settlement’s clearly recognisable division into individual plots, potentially giving archaeologists an unusually detailed picture of how the medieval community was organised.
“The investigations confirmed the assumption that the area now being examined in more detail is a so-called deserted settlement, meaning a medieval settlement that was abandoned by its inhabitants over time,” said Susanne Friederich, head of supra-regional archaeological heritage management at the state archaeology office.
Archaeologists have documented numerous pit houses arranged in rows, together with associated storage or settlement pits and two wells.
Pit houses, also known as sunken-featured buildings, typically incorporated a floor dug below ground level with a timber structure constructed above it. The surviving subterranean portions can leave distinctive archaeological traces long after the wooden elements have disappeared.
Researchers found no evidence of houses in the northern part of the excavation towards the former ditch. However, pits and surviving occupation layers indicate that the waterside zone was still used intensively by the community.
Settlement Was Rebuilt and Expanded
Evidence suggests the village did not remain static during its occupation.
Overlapping archaeological features and the positioning of neighbouring pit houses indicate at least two phases of settlement. Researchers believe the focus of the community gradually shifted as new buildings were constructed.
Detailed investigation of the site’s ditches has also revealed repeated alterations and extensions, suggesting the boundaries and organisation of the settlement changed over time.
Together, the remains could allow archaeologists to reconstruct not only where people lived, but how the medieval community developed from one generation to the next.
Residents Appear to Have Taken Their Possessions
Perhaps the most surprising discovery is what archaeologists have not found.
Despite the extensive preservation of buildings, pits, wells and other archaeological features, the site has produced remarkably few everyday objects.
Abandoned medieval settlements can leave behind large quantities of pottery, tools, fittings and other possessions. At Am Frevelgraben, however, relatively little material appears to have been discarded.
Researchers believe this indicates that the inhabitants left the settlement in an unusually orderly fashion, taking most of their possessions with them rather than abandoning them.
The surviving finds include scattered fragments of medieval pottery and a small collection of metal objects, including belt buckles, fittings and a bronze tap.
These objects are likely to represent only a tiny fraction of the material possessions once used by the settlement’s inhabitants.
The continuing excavation is expected to provide further evidence about how the community was organised, how it changed over time and, potentially, what happened before its inhabitants finally left the settlement behind.
Sources : LDA
