A 4,500-year-old burial site related to the Bell Beaker Culture has been unearthed by archaeologists in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, near the town of Förderstedt in the Salzlandkreis district while excavating ahead of the construction of the SuedOstLink powerline. The extensive investigation along the planned route, from Wolmirstedt near Magdeburg to Droyßig in the Burgenland district, is being conducted by the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology (LDA) Saxony-Anhalt.

Burial of the Bell Beaker Culture. A wrist guard of red stone lies at the forearm of the individual. Credit: Sarah Krohn, State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt

The Bell Beaker Culture, named for its distinctive bell-shaped ceramic containers, was prominent between 2500 and 2050 BCE, during the Eneolithic or Copper Age. It extended through much of Western Europe, including the Iberian Peninsula, Great Britain, and Ireland, and north through parts of Central and Northern Europe. One of the distinctive features ᴀssociated with the culture was its unique burial customs, where men were laid to rest on their left sides, with their heads facing north, while women were placed on their right sides with their heads pointed south. In both cases, the deceased faced east.

Archaeologists have identified at least ten graves, at a depth extending about two meters, three of which appear to be covered by a burial mound. Among the most remarkable finds are the remains of three individuals who seem to have been warriors, as indicated by the appearance of grave goods ᴀssociated with archery and combat. Within these graves were found items such as a bell-shaped ceramic vessel, stone wrist guards, and flint arrowheads.

One grave held a wrist guard made of Gotland sandstone, a stone that had been transported to Central Germany by Ice Age glaciers, in excellent condition. Wearing such wrist guards on the forearm protected the archer against injury from the bowstring. Although arrows were not found in this grave, the fact that a wrist guard was present may indicate that the person buried here was a hunter or warrior.

Burial of the Bell Beaker Culture. Two arrowheads lie in a discoloration of the sediment behind the persons back, which could indicate a quiver of organic material. Credit: Sarah Krohn, State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt

In another burial, archaeologists discovered two flint arrowheads placed near the back of the deceased. The surrounding soil showed signs of discoloration, indicating the possible former presence of a now-decomposed organic quiver. “Evidence of organic objects, such as the possible quiver discovered here, is very rare. That’s what makes this find so special,” explained Susanne Friedrich, head of the archaeological monument preservation department at the LDA Saxony-Anhalt.

The preservation of these burials is especially noteworthy. Unlike many artificially mounded graves, which were built on the surface and then later eroded over time, these graves were dug deeper into the earth and filled with loess clay, which effectively protected them against environmental degradation.

This discovery also offers insights into ancient trade and migration networks. The presence of Gotland sandstone, which was quarried in the Baltic Sea region, indicates that long-distance contact existed between communities in Northern and Central Europe. The Bell Beaker Culture is known for its complex relationships with neighboring societies, and such finds invite archaeologists to expand their understanding of these connections.

The remaining graves at the site will continue to be excavated and analyzed in laboratory settings to gather as much information as possible.

More information: Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (idw)

State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt