27 September 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Medieval Toy Workshop Unearthed in Freiburg: Archaeologists Discover Forgotten Childhood Treasures

Archaeologists in Freiburg, a historic city in Germany, have uncovered a medieval pottery workshop where clay toys were once crafted. The remarkable find, dating back to the early 14th century, reveals dozens of figurines that may have brought joy to children nearly 700 years ago.

What began as routine construction work for a new finance school in Freiburg, a historic university city in southwest Germany near the Black Forest, has turned into one of the country’s most intriguing archaeological discoveries in recent years. Excavations at the site of the future Oberfinanzschule have unearthed medieval pottery kilns, remnants of a long-forgotten street, and dozens of clay figurines that may once have served as toys for children nearly 700 years ago.

The excavation, which covers an area of roughly 4,000 square meters along Albertstraße and Habsburgerstraße, lies in the so-called Neuburg, Freiburg’s first medieval urban expansion, planned shortly after 1240 under Count Konrad of Freiburg. Today, before the new building complex with an underground parking facility can rise, archaeologists are racing against time to preserve what history has left behind.

Preserved Layers Beneath Modern Freiburg

According to Dr. Bertram Jenisch of the Landesamt für Denkmalpflege (State Office for Cultural Heritage), the site is remarkably well-preserved despite later developments, including the university hospital destroyed in World War II.
“Beneath the rubble of the 20th century, we found intact walking surfaces from the early 13th century,” said Dr. Jenisch. “This gives us a large-scale window into the carefully planned medieval suburb of Freiburg.”

Among the finds is the Ziegelgasse, a medieval street once lined with the homes and workshops of artisans. Unlike Freiburg’s more prestigious inner-city houses, these dwellings were modest, with practical designs tailored to their residents’ needs. The discovery of the street’s intact body is considered a minor sensation, as most medieval streets have long been disrupted by modern infrastructure.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



Close-up view of Ziegelgasse during excavation. Credit: LAD/E&B
Close-up view of Ziegelgasse during excavation. Credit: LAD/E&B

Kilns, Clay Figures, and the Everyday Life of Children

Even more surprising was the identification of pottery kilns dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries – the first ever documented in Freiburg. These kilns produced the ceramics widely used in the city during the Middle Ages, but one in particular revealed a rare glimpse into childhood centuries ago.

Inside, archaeologists found fragments of more than 40 small clay figurines: women with headdresses, men in caps, horses, and mothers cradling children. The figures, though simple, are unmistakably toys.
“One craftsman in the early 14th century seems to have specialized in producing clay toys,” Dr. Jenisch explained. “This discovery is a small sensation for Freiburg’s history.”

For excavation leader Benjamin Hamm, the figurines are more than artifacts; they are emotional reminders of the human side of medieval life. “They touch us because they represent play,” Hamm said. “It is moving to see that beyond war, plague, and religious strife, there was still space for childhood joy.”

Insights Into Medieval Urban Planning

The discoveries also shed light on how Freiburg’s Neuburg was planned and built. Archaeological evidence suggests that the street network was laid out first, followed by the subdivision of land with continuous boundary walls. A designated 42-meter-wide zone, known as the Allmend, was set aside for workshops, kilns, and other craft activities – possibly as a fire safety measure.

This systematic approach reflects a surprisingly modern sense of urban planning. “The archaeological record clearly shows that the founding of the Neuburg was carried out in a highly organized manner,” noted Dr. Jenisch.

Clay figurines. Credit: LAD-RPS/Jenisch
Clay figurines. Credit: LAD-RPS/Jenisch

Rescue Excavation Under Pressure

The Freiburg dig is part of what is known in Germany as a “rescue excavation” (Rettungsgrabung). Unlike research excavations, which allow archaeologists ample time, rescue digs must be completed swiftly before new construction makes further exploration impossible. They are often conducted under tight deadlines but play a crucial role in preserving traces of the past before they vanish.

Across Baden-Württemberg, most archaeological work falls into this category, whether linked to small-scale projects or major infrastructure developments such as industrial parks, highways, or pipelines.

A Window Into the Past

For Freiburg, the excavation offers more than just artifacts – it provides a tangible link to the city’s medieval roots and its people. The clay figurines, in particular, highlight a universal truth: that children, whether in the 14th century or today, played, imagined, and created worlds of their own.

“These finds give us an immediate glimpse into everyday life that written sources cannot provide,” Dr. Jenisch reflected. “They remind us that history is not just about rulers and wars, but also about ordinary people and their families.”

As construction of the new Oberfinanzschule moves forward, archaeologists hope to preserve and document as much as possible. While the buildings will rise above ground, the stories uncovered below will enrich Freiburg’s cultural heritage for generations to come.

Landesamt für Denkmalpflege im Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart

Cover Image Credit: Overview of the rescue excavation. Landesamt für Denkmalpflege im Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart

Related Articles

Archeologists Unearth Spectator snacks from the Roman Period in Colosseum

28 November 2022

28 November 2022

An excavation of the Colosseum’s sewer systems has uncovered a selection of spectator snacks from the Roman Period. It appears...

New study investigates the development of the Scandinavian gene pool over the latest 2000 years

5 January 2023

5 January 2023

A new study resolves the complex relations between geography, ancestry, and gene flow in Scandinavia – encompassing the Roman Age,...

Roman-era Pottery Workshop discovered in Alexandria

29 April 2022

29 April 2022

The Egyptian archaeological mission discovered a Roman-era pottery workshop at the site of Tibet Mutawah, west of Alexandria. The researchers...

Archaeologists discovered the first evidence of early administrative management in eastern Iran

21 June 2022

21 June 2022

Iranian archaeologists believe they have discovered the first evidence of early administrative management in an eastern Iranian province, which they...

Unusual Potter’s Signature or Graffito found during excavation of a Roman tile kiln in England

2 August 2023

2 August 2023

Cotswold Archeology and a team of volunteers have found an unusual potter’s signature or graffito in Minety, a village in...

Poland’s oldest copper axe discovered in the Lublin region

30 March 2024

30 March 2024

A copper axe from the 4th to 3rd millennium BC identified with the Trypillia culture was found in the Horodło...

Itbaraks in Turkic Mythology: The Human-Bodied, Dog-Headed Beings Who Defied Oghuz Khagan

5 July 2025

5 July 2025

In the mist-shrouded realms of ancient Turkic epics, there exists a race that haunts both myth and memory—the İtbaraks. These...

Archaeologists Reconstruct the Face of a 7th-Century Anglo-Saxon Woman Buried with “Trumpington Cross”

21 June 2023

21 June 2023

In a remarkable archaeological discovery near Cambridge, England, the face of a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon woman buried with a rare gold...

8000-year-old unique “fish-figure” small home tool found in Turkey

20 October 2021

20 October 2021

During this year’s excavations in the Yeşilova and Yassıtepe mounds in İzmir, a unique “fish-figure” small home tool was found....

Archaeologists unearth first archaeological evidence about Anatolia’s mysterious Kaska community, sworn enemies of the Hittites

16 January 2025

16 January 2025

In the course of the excavations conducted by Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University‘s Department of Archaeology, artifacts from the Late Bronze...

Oldest footprints of pre-humans identified in Crete

11 October 2021

11 October 2021

Six million-year-old fossilized footprints on the island show the human foot had begun to develop. The oldest known footprints of...

Archaeologists discover traces of ancient Jalula, the city that witnessed the famous battle of the same name 1386 years ago

23 November 2023

23 November 2023

The  Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH) has announced the discovery of the boundaries and various structures of...

Archaeologists uncover 4,000-year-old earliest large-scale Archaic fish-trapping facility recorded in ancient Mesoamerica

28 November 2024

28 November 2024

Archaeologists, using drones and Google Earth imagery, have discovered a 4,000-year-old network of earthen canals in what is now Belize...

The 2,200-year-old Agora of Aigai ancient city comes to light

19 August 2024

19 August 2024

Archaeologists have uncovered an agora (city square) during excavations in the ancient city of Aigai, west of Manisa. Aigai, located...

The world’s largest Byzantine winepresses have been discovered in Israel

11 October 2021

11 October 2021

Archaeologists say they’ve discovered the world’s largest known Byzantine-era winery in the city of Yavne, south of Tel Aviv. The...