22 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

One of the Largest Prehistoric Burial Grounds Ever Found in Bavaria Unearthed During Power Line Work

Archaeologists call the discovery a “sensation” as 22 prehistoric skeletons and rare artifacts are uncovered near Regensburg.

Archaeologists in Bavaria have uncovered a prehistoric burial site of exceptional importance during construction work on the Südostlink power line. The large graveyard, discovered near the village of Sengkofen in the district of Regensburg, contains 22 remarkably well-preserved human skeletons, dating back more than 4,000 years to the transition from the late Neolithic period to the early Bronze Age.

The burial ground, described as one of the largest of its kind ever found in Bavaria, has provided extraordinary insights into ancient funeral practices and prehistoric culture. According to experts from the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation, the discovery represents a significant contribution to understanding early European societies.

Unique “Crouched Burials” from the Bell Beaker Culture

The skeletons were found in so-called “crouched burials,” a funerary tradition where the deceased were interred with bent arms and legs. This method of burial is one of the oldest known worldwide. Grave goods including finely crafted ceramic vessels, arrowheads, copper daggers, and stone wrist guards—once used by archers—were also unearthed.

These artifacts strongly suggest a connection to the Bell Beaker culture, a prehistoric society that spread across large parts of Europe between 2800 and 2200 BC. The typical bell-shaped pottery, from which the culture takes its name, indicates that the individuals buried here may have held high social status.



📣 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!!



“The site is a sensation,” said Dieter Heyse, the archaeological coordinator for the Regensburg district excavations. “It is one of the largest burial grounds of this era ever discovered in Bavaria.”

Double Graves Raise Questions

Among the most intriguing finds are two double burials, where pairs of individuals were placed closely together in crouched positions. Archaeologists are now investigating whether the people buried in these graves were related or connected through ritual practices. Planned DNA analyses may reveal family ties or shed light on community structures in prehistoric Bavaria.

The presence of such double burials adds to the mystery of the site and raises new questions about the cultural and social dynamics of the Bell Beaker communities.

Settlement Traces and a 5,000-Year-Old Well

Beyond the graves, archaeologists uncovered additional settlement remains, including postholes from ancient longhouses, storage pits, and a clay oven. Even more striking was the discovery of a well, dated to around 3500–3300 BC, making it older than the burial ground itself.

The well was lined with a hollowed-out tree trunk and reinforced with woven branches, a construction method typical of the Altheim culture, which flourished in Central Europe before the Bell Beaker period. Inside, researchers found an acorn and an oak leaf preserved for millennia—an extraordinary glimpse into the prehistoric environment.

“This well is of outstanding scientific importance due to its age and state of preservation,” experts noted.

No Delay for the Südostlink Power Line

The discovery occurred during construction of the Südostlink power line, a major infrastructure project designed to transport renewable energy from northern to southern Germany. Once completed, the underground cable—stretching roughly 270 kilometers through Bavaria—will deliver green electricity from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to Landshut.

Despite the archaeological work, officials from grid operator Tennet confirmed that the excavations will not delay construction. The finds had been anticipated, as the region south of the Danube is known for its high density of archaeological remains.

Future Exhibitions Planned

All skeletons and artifacts have been transferred to restoration workshops in Munich, where they will undergo conservation and further study. Archaeologists hope the discoveries will eventually be displayed in museums, offering the public a rare opportunity to engage with Bavaria’s prehistoric past.

For now, the site near Regensburg stands as one of the most remarkable archaeological finds in recent years—connecting modern infrastructure development with ancient history buried beneath the soil.

Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation

Cover Image Credit: Tennet – dpa

Related Articles

The ancient city of Karkamış “House of the Seal” brings a different perspective to the Hittite-Assyrian relations with its important finds

6 May 2022

6 May 2022

Historical artifacts discovered during excavations by Turkish and Italian teams in the ancient city of Karkamış (Carchemish) in southern Gaziantep...

Earliest Modern Human Genome Identified

7 April 2021

7 April 2021

The fossilized skull of a woman in the Czech Republic provided the oldest modern human genome to date, which has...

5,000-Year-Old Burial of High-Status Woman with Feathered Mantle Unearthed in Ancient Caral

27 April 2025

27 April 2025

Archaeologists in Peru have announced the remarkable discovery of a 5,000-year-old burial of a woman of high social standing at...

Ushabti figurines on display at Izmir Archeology Museum

18 September 2021

18 September 2021

The 2,700-year-old “Ushabti” statuettes, discovered in archaeological digs in western Turkey and used in Egyptian burial ceremonies, are being shown...

High-status Macedonian tomb discovered in ancient Aegae, Central Macedonia

2 April 2024

2 April 2024

In the ancient city of Aegae (present-day Vergina) in Imathia, Central Macedonia, during the construction of the sewerage network, tomb...

An Ampulla was discovered for the first time in the ancient city of Dara, Turkey

11 January 2022

11 January 2022

An ampulla was found for the first time in the ancient city of Dara, located in the province of Mardin...

1500-year-old Medallion Rescued From Treasure Hunters on Display in Çorum Museum

3 May 2021

3 May 2021

A 1,500-year-old gold medallion portraying a figure of Jesus Christ has been exhibited at a museum in Turkey’s northern province...

9,000-Year-Old Rock Art Suggests Early Humans Interacted with Dinosaur Footprints

22 February 2025

22 February 2025

In Brazil, researchers have made an extraordinary discovery of ancient rock art dating back over 9,000 years, found alongside dinosaur...

Artificial intelligence is Detecting New Archaeological Sites in the Arabian desert

5 October 2024

5 October 2024

A team of researchers at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi has developed a machine-learning algorithm to help them trawl vast...

1,500-Year-Old Stained Glass and Mosaics Discovered at Harran Cathedral Excavation in Türkiye

7 February 2025

7 February 2025

Recent excavations at the historic Harran archaeological site, which is included on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List, have yielded rare...

A first in 35 years! Child grave with bracelets and gifts found in ancient city of Kelenderis

25 June 2022

25 June 2022

During this year’s excavations in the ancient city of Kelenderis, founded on the Mediterranean coast in the southern province of...

A First! This Study on Pregnancy in the Viking Age Illuminates Warrior Women and the Fate of Babies

14 May 2025

14 May 2025

A groundbreaking interdisciplinary study by Viking experts from the Universities of Nottingham and Leicester has shed new light on the...

Oldest Known Human Viruses Discovered In 50,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Remains

15 May 2024

15 May 2024

Researchers from the Federal University of São Paulo have managed to uncover the oldest known human viruses in a set...

Archaeologists Uncover Large Roman-Era Complex Beneath Modern Melun

18 June 2025

18 June 2025

Archaeologists have uncovered significant remnants of the ancient Roman city of Metlosedum, now modern-day Melun, in a recent excavation revealing...

Marvelous Marble Floor Of Sunken Roman Villa Restored in Bacoli

19 July 2024

19 July 2024

In Bacoli, Italy, an underwater restoration project has uncovered the marvelous marble floor of a submerged Roman villa. This remarkable...