Wooden graves found in 6,000 year old mounds!

In a fascinating archaeological revelation, experts from the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt (LDA) have unearthed a burial landscape dating back to the Neolithic period atop the Eulenberg near Magdeburg, Germany.

Photo Credit: LDA

Through meticulous excavations, archaeologists have brought to light two ancient mounds, estimated to be approximately 6,000 years old, belonging to the Baalberge Group, a late Neolithic culture prevalent in Central Germany and Bohemia between 4100 and 3600 BC.

According to statements by the LDA, these mounds were constructed atop wooden grave chambers, where multiple burials were discovered. The chambers, characterized by their trapezoidal shape, span between 20 to 30 metres in length, providing intriguing insights into the burial practices of this ancient civilization.

Interestingly, nearly a millennium later, the area between the mounds served as a sacred route for rituals and burials conducted by the Globular Amphora Culture (GAC). To delineate this processional path, the GAC people erected a 50 cm wide palisade ditch, which traversed over several cattle burials.

Photo Credit: LDA

The GAC, known for their unique burial customs, often included animal offerings in their rituals, such as the jaw of a pig or entire cattle burials, which were also observed at other GAC sites across Central Europe.

A spokesperson for LDA, speaking to HeritageDaily, highlighted the significance of these discoveries, stating, "Along this path, pairs of young, 2-3 year old cattle were sacrificed and buried. In one case, the grave of a 35 to 40 year old man was dug in front the cattle burials, creating the image of a cart with a driver or a plough pulled by cattle."

Furthermore, in the vicinity of the mounds, archaeologists uncovered burial mounds belonging to the Corded Ware Culture, dating from approximately 2800 to 2050 BC. This culture, known for its distinctive pottery adorned with cord-like impressions, is believed to have played a pivotal role in the spread of Indo-European languages across Europe and Asia during the late Neolithic and early Copper Age periods.

The accumulation of archaeological evidence suggests that the Eulenberg landscape remained a significant ceremonial center for prehistoric communities over an extensive period, shedding light on the rich cultural practices and beliefs of our ancient ancestors.