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Image Credit: Haweb, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (Illustrative Image)
Medieval Tunnel Discovered Inside a Prehistoric Tomb in Germany
Archaeologists scholars excavating a prehistoric burial site in central Germany have uncovered a mysterious underground tunnel built thousands of years after the original monument. The discovery suggests that medieval visitors reused the ancient site, possibly for hidden ritual activity.
The excavation took place near the village of Dornberg, where archaeologists documented a complex sequence of remains: a fourth-millennium BC ditch, third-millennium BC burials, and a Bronze Age burial mound. During the work, a narrow oval pit intersecting the Neolithic grave ditch led unexpectedly into a subterranean passage system known in German as an erdstall.
These earth tunnels are small underground corridors with chamber-like extensions, typically dated to the Middle Ages. They are known from many regions of southern Germany, yet their purpose remains uncertain. Proposed interpretations include hiding places during unrest or locations for clandestine ritual practices.
Unlike most such tunnels, the newly discovered example contained artifacts: a metal horseshoe, a fox skeleton, fragments of a spherical ceramic vessel, and traces of charcoal indicating a brief fire. The entrance had also been intentionally sealed with large stones, implying deliberate concealment.
Researchers note that the prehistoric monument may still have been visible in the medieval landscape and possibly regarded as a significant place. Whether the tunnel served ritual activity or simply provided a secluded refuge remains unclear, but the find demonstrates how ancient burial sites continued to shape human behavior long after their original use.
Published on: 12-02-2026
Edited by: Abdulmnam Samakie
Source: Live Science