Archaeologists in the eastern German village of Delbrück-Bentfeld have completed a months-long excavation that uncovered a multi-period Roman-era settlement and a well-preserved burial ground, providing rich insights into life in the region from the 2nd to the 5th century CE. The excavation, under the direction of the Westphalia-Lippe Regional ᴀssociation (LWL), started in November 2024 ahead of new residential development in the area known as Schafbreite.

Recovery of structural timbers from the well shaft. Credit: EggensteinExca/S. Knippschild

Throughout the excavation, the team documented nearly 400 archaeological features, including two large structures, pit houses, wells, and storage and refuse pits. Among the most notable finds was a cremation from the Roman era that has produced rare physical evidence of East Westphalia’s connection to the Roman world. The burial included charred human remains, funeral pyre charcoal, and grave goods such as the tip of a lance, brooches, a broken bone comb, a firesteel, and an ornately decorated animal-head belt buckle, possibly part of a Roman soldier’s belt.

Experts believe the individual was a Germanic warrior mercenary who had been in the Roman army earlier. This is the first burial in East Westphalia where parts of a Roman military belt have been found in context, rather than as surface finds.

This fitting with an eyelet, from the old cultural layer, is from a Roman military belt dating to the 4th or 5th century. Credit: EggensteinExca/S. Knippschild

The final surprise at the end of the excavation was a Migration Period well. This was initially suspected to be an animal watering hole, but excavation revealed a shaft made from three hollowed-out tree trunks. Remarkably, the site yielded not only preserved wood and wattlework, but also a fragment of leather and even a delicate insect wing—exquisite organic preservation for the period.

View of the well shaft constructed from three segments of tree trunks. Credit: EggensteinExca/S. Knippschild

One of the wooden beams utilized in the well had carved, rune-like markings. “The beam certainly originated from a house and was later repurposed for the well,” explains excavation director Sven Knippschild.

A charcoal-rich layer above the well contained numerous charred bone and glᴀss bead fragments—potentially indicating that not only was the well decommissioned, but it may also have been used ritually or as a cremation site. Grave goods found in this layer included two small bead fragments—a clear and a blue one—and a large green glᴀss bead, possibly left behind at a hasty or symbolic burial.

This very large glᴀss bead, 3.8 cm in diameter, with embedded white glᴀss threads, comes from the black charcoal layer above the well shaft. According to initial ᴀssessment, it dates to around the 1st century but, based on the well’s dating, it apparently entered the ground about 300 years later. Credit: LWL-Archäologie für Westfalen/A. Madziala

Further research will include dendrochronological dating of the wooden beams, radiocarbon analysis of the charcoal deposits, anthropological examination of the cremated remains, and archaeobotanical studies to help reconstruct the environment 1,600 years ago.

The cremation pit burial feature 531 in plan view. The white tags mark metal grave goods in the pit, while the light shaded areas are animal burrows running through the grave. Credit: EggensteinExca/S. Knippschild

With excavations now concluded, residential development in Schafbreite is set to move forward. Local Mayor Werner Peitz expressed his support for both the housing project and the archaeological efforts: “We’re very pleased about the progress, but it was just as important to us that a site of regional and historical importance like this was thoroughly and professionally documented so its story can be preserved for future generations.”

More information: Regional ᴀssociation of Westphalia-Lippe (LwL)