Archaeologists have discovered a rare Stone Age tomb containing 5,000-year-old pottery in the Danube valley of southwestern Germany. Neolithic burials were found in an area where 140 medieval graves were excavated, many of which contained swords and jewelry.
After the Volga River in Russia, the Danube River is the second longest river in Europe. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast 2,850 km (1,770 mi) to the Black Sea. Around 5500 BC, the Linear Pottery culture spread westward along the Danube valley and came into contact with Atlantic European cultures.
Now, in the Geisingen-Gutmadingen district of Tuttlingen, southwest Germany, archaeologists have discovered a “Corded Ware” cultural tomb dating back 5,000 years. The ancient tomb contained decorative pottery and a flint knife blade. This time period is when pottery was created using crushed pottery (broken pottery) mixed with their clay.
The corded ceramic vase, stone ax and flint blade from the Stone Age burial period were found in southwestern Germany, among 140 medieval graves. (Yvonne Mühleis / State Office for Monuments Conservation at RPS )
Stone Age burials and German battleaxe culture
The “ Corded Ware culture ” or “War Ax culture” comes from the earlier Beaker Funnel culture of the Northern European Plains that merged with the proto-Indo-European steppe culture (Yamnaya culture). Relying primarily on livestock herding and occasional grain growing, the Battle Ax people created bronze and bronze artifacts, in addition to their iconic stone battle axes.
The name “Corded Ware” comes from a rough ceramic clay cup decorated with twisted wire shapes. In these late Stone Age tombs, the deceased were buried in flat graves inside small mounds of earth and the body was often placed on its side with the knees bent. It is not uncommon for chariots/carts and sacrificial animals to be found with axes in Corded Ware graves.
A sacred site reused 3,500 years later
Researchers also found “140 early medieval graves” in the same area where the Stone Age graves were found. These medieval tombs date from 500 to 600 AD and they not only contain items of daily living such as combs and drinking glasses, but also spears, swords and jewellery.
Mayor Martin Numberger said in a statement that these new discoveries establish that the Gutmadingen district was inhabited “much earlier” than 1273 AD. This is when records first mention a settlement in the area. Now, these new discoveries have proven that humans lived in this area shortly after the reign of Roman emperor Romulus Augustus and his Germanic overlord, Odoacer.
Medieval mass migration caused cultural mixing
During the Period of Migration (Völkerwanderung) in European history, large-scale migrations of various tribes settled and often warred for control of fallen Roman territories. The need and greed for territory and tradable resources meant that excessive violence ravaged society at this time, but so did the mixing of cultures and exchanges. change burial traditions.
A report in Live Science explains that burial rituals at this time sometimes “changed when conquerors took over a particular village or region.” For example, the Germanic Alemanni tribe defeated by the Franks in 496 AD were subsequently incorporated into the Principality of the Merovingians. This is why so many men’s graves from the Migration Period were found to contain weapons and jewelry.
The Germanic Alemanni were first mentioned after being attacked by the Romans in 213 AD. By the 5th century AD, the tribe had expanded into Alsace and northern Switzerland, and established the German language in those areas. However, in 496 AD “they were conquered by Clovis and incorporated into the Frankish dominion.”
During this transitional time, the Alemanni created mass family graves called “adelsgrablege” (noble graves), filled with armor, weapons, and jewelry.
