Find during construction work

Medieval settlement uncovered near Munich

The ground plan of a centuries-old church (pictured) was also uncovered during construction work in Oberschleißheim near Munich.(Bild: dpa/Archäologisches Büro Anzenberger & Leicht GbR)

Remains of a previously unknown medieval settlement have been discovered during construction work in Bavaria. The find in Oberschleißheim near Munich includes house foundations, ovens, pit houses and earth cellars as well as traces of a church dating from the 9th to 13th century AD.

The excavations therefore offer rare and comprehensive insights into the development and organization of high medieval settlements in the region, report experts from the Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments (BLfD). It is possible that research in historical maps or other written sources could provide a place name.

Floor plan of church uncovered
In the center of the settlement, the floor plan of a church with a recessed apse was uncovered. The archaeologists discovered around 20 burial sites around the church building. Beneath the former church floor, evidence was found of another burial pit, the secrets of which have yet to be revealed.

"Burial in the interior of a church was rare in the early Middle Ages and only reserved for higher-ranking people," said Jochen Haberstroh, deputy head of the Department for the Preservation of Archaeological Monuments at the BLfD. "The discovery of this settlement helps us to better understand the history of the region at the time Munich was founded."

Find particularly revealing
Early medieval settlement remains have been found time and again in the Munich gravel plain due to increased construction activities. However, this find is particularly revealing due to its completeness.