Archaeologists discover secrets of Darmstadt's oldest cemetery!

Archaeologists discover secrets of Darmstadt's oldest cemetery!

There is currently a lot of archaeological activity in Darmstadt. During construction work around the town church, archaeologists came across impressive finds that date back to the Bronze Age. The town church, which is located directly in the pedestrian zone, was once surrounded by a cemetery that was established in the 12th century. The discovery was made during sewer work and the laying of new water and gas pipes last year. A total of 13 skeletons were found, including children, which indicates the high child mortality rate during this time. These finds are now viewed as valuable contemporary witnesses, as hessenschau.de reports.

A look back into history shows that the cemetery was in use until the 16th century and occasionally even into the 18th century. The archaeologists had previously accompanied the construction work to ensure that important historical finds were documented. The remains included not only human bones, but also numerous ceramic and pottery shards as well as tools such as a metal pickaxe and slate plates with the inscriptions “Johann Valetin Granel, 1704”. According to reports from fr.de, these panels could once have been part of the roof of the previous church.

Cemetery culture in transition

The discoveries at the town church are more than just archaeological finds; they are a window into Germany's cemetery culture, which has developed over centuries. This culture includes rituals for processing grief, the design of graves as gardens of remembrance and the use of the cemetery as a social space. The cemetery culture is lively and dynamic, which is also reflected in the increasing number of urn burials, notes unesco.de.

A special find was the remains of an ossuary, which may have come from the 18th century cemetery wall. This wall was leveled in 1799, but its remains are documented in historical site plans. The interaction of old and new graves shows the typical problem in urban cemeteries: due to limited space, older graves are often opened. The city has already taken measures to deal with the enormous historical heritage and this is praised by city councilor Michael Kolmer.

The thorough work of the archaeologists in collaboration with the city's monument protection authority and the state office for monument preservation shows a good hand in dealing with Darmstadt's cultural heritage. The newly gained knowledge will not only contribute to the preservation of the city's history, but will also serve as an important part of our identity for future generations.