16 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Unveiling a Roman Settlement Beyond the Empire: New Discoveries in Delbrück-Bentfeld, Germany

Recent archaeological excavations in Delbrück-Bentfeld, located in northwestern Germany, have revealed significant evidence of a Roman settlement that existed beyond the borders of the Roman Empire. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the extent of Roman influence in the region and highlights a complex interaction between Roman settlers and local populations.

The site, situated along the Lippe River and approximately 90 miles from the Limes Germanicus—the Roman frontier—was initially thought to be an isolated farmstead discovered in 2017. However, ongoing excavations led by the Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe (LWL) have uncovered three distinct farmsteads, suggesting a much larger settlement that thrived between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE.

Among the notable findings is a residential building at the center of a large courtyard, with numerous post holes indicating its structure. Archaeologists have also identified a farmyard to the southwest, where a kiln containing traces of non-ferrous metal was found, hinting at possible jewelry production. This discovery underscores the economic activities that may have taken place in this remote settlement.

A nearly eight-inch-long knife with inlaid brass stripes was discovered buried under the floor of a building. Credit: A. Madziala/LWL
A nearly eight-inch-long knife with inlaid brass stripes was discovered buried under the floor of a building. Credit: A. Madziala/LWL

Dr. Sven Spiong, an archaeologist from the LWL Archaeology Centre, emphasized the importance of the artifacts unearthed during the excavations. Coins and ceramics found at the site will aid in dating the farmsteads, potentially clarifying whether they were occupied simultaneously or if they represented a single farmstead that shifted locations over time. The wooden construction methods of the period often necessitated the abandonment of decaying buildings, leading to the establishment of new structures nearby.

Among the intriguing artifacts discovered is a finely crafted cameo gemstone depicting Mercury, the Roman god of commerce and travel. Additionally, a well-preserved knife adorned with decorative brass stripes was found buried upright, possibly as part of a ritual offering to ward off evil.



📣 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 findings in Delbrück-Bentfeld not only shed light on the daily lives of the Romans who settled in this area but also illustrate the cultural exchanges that occurred between the Romans and the indigenous populations. The presence of Roman coins and ceramics, alongside local artifacts, suggests a blending of cultures that enriched the region’s history.

A small gem with a depiction of Mercury. Researchers believe it was once part of a ring. Credit:  A. Madziala/LWL
A small gem with a depiction of Mercury. Researchers believe it was once part of a ring. Credit: A. Madziala/LWL

Local officials, including Delbrück’s mayor, Werner Peitz, have expressed excitement over the discoveries, noting their significance in understanding the past. “These archaeological excavations provide us with a unique glimpse into the past. Every find preserves a piece of history for future generations and brings us closer to the world of our ancestors,” Peitz stated.

As excavations continue, researchers are eager to uncover more about this Roman settlement and its role in the broader narrative of Roman expansion and cultural integration in Germania. The ongoing work promises to reveal further insights into the lives of those who inhabited this remote outpost of the Roman Empire, enriching our understanding of ancient history.

Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe

Cover Image Crediit: Archaeologists excavating a pit at a Roman farmstead in Delbrück-Bentfeld, Germany. S. Spiong/LWL

Related Articles

Ancient Roman Chalice Contained Pig Fat Discovered in a 6th-century Anglo-Saxon Tomb in England

11 December 2024

11 December 2024

During excavations in Scremby, Lincolnshire in 2018, archaeologists uncovered an enameled copper alloy chalice in a 6th-century AD female grave....

A woman in Norway found Viking-age 1000-year-old hoard in basement

20 April 2023

20 April 2023

A woman in Norway cleaned her parents’ home, she found 32 iron ingots dating to the Viking or early Middle...

A new chapter in the Hittite world is revealed by painted hieroglyphs discovered in the Hattusa Yerkapı tunnel

30 April 2024

30 April 2024

The painted hieroglyphs discovered in 2022 in the Yerkapı Tunnel in Hattusa, the capital of the Hittites, one of the...

Deadly Omens Revealed from 4,000-year-old Babylonian Tablets

10 August 2024

10 August 2024

Researchers successfully deciphered 4,000-year-old cuneiform tablets discovered over a century ago in what is now Iraq.  The tablets, housed at...

Europe’s Oldest Evidence of Winemaking Unearthed in ‘City of Birds’: 7,000-Year-Old Discovery

22 August 2025

22 August 2025

Researchers have uncovered evidence of what is believed to be Europe’s earliest winemaking in the prehistoric settlement known as the...

Prehistoric Star Map Carved in Stone Discovered in Bulgaria

14 July 2025

14 July 2025

A recently uncovered archaeological site in the Rhodope Mountains of southern Bulgaria is now entering the scientific spotlight. In a...

Mystery of the World’s Oldest Map on a Nearly 3,000-year-old Babylonian Tablet Finally Solved

28 October 2024

28 October 2024

A recent British Museum video reveals that the “oldest map of the world in the world” on a clay tablet...

Mysterious 1,600-Year-Old Roman-Era Burial Unearthed in Delbrück-Bentfeld, Germany

15 June 2025

15 June 2025

Archaeologists have uncovered a rare and mysterious Roman-era burial in Delbrück-Bentfeld, Germany, revealing a unique glimpse into the region’s ancient...

Archaeologists reveal 4,000-year-old rock-cut tomb, artifacts in Saqqara

8 January 2024

8 January 2024

A team of Egyptian and Japanese archaeologists has unveiled a rock-cut tomb believed to be more than 4,000 years old...

A new study shows that the cave paintings at Cueva Ardales are the work of Neanderthals

21 August 2021

21 August 2021

A study of pigments used in murals in the Cueva Ardales caves in southern Spain has revealed that Neanderthals, long...

The 8,000-year-old Aslantepe in Turkey has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List

26 July 2021

26 July 2021

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Monday that a rich, 30-meter-high archaeological mound going back 8,000 years in southern Turkey has...

2,300 Years Old First Complete Ancient Celtic Village and Roman Settlement Discovered in Munich

22 October 2023

22 October 2023

Archaeologists have discovered an ancient Celtic village and evidence of a smaller Roman settlement in Munich, Germany. The 2,300-year-old Celtic...

Oldest Evidence of Head Shaping in Europe Discovered in Italian Cave

11 August 2025

11 August 2025

Archaeologists have uncovered the earliest known case of artificial cranial modification (ACM – deliberate head shaping) on the continent, dating...

Unlocking the Secrets of Jersey’s Le Câtillon II: A Celtic Settlement Discovered Near the Enigmatic Hoard

12 March 2025

12 March 2025

Recent archaeological investigations near Jersey, an island in the English Channel situated just off the coast of France, have unveiled...

1,800-year-old wooden mask likely used in farm festivals found in Japan

25 April 2023

25 April 2023

Archaeologists have unearthed an almost perfectly preserved wooden mask from the early third century at the Nishi-Iwata ruins in Osaka...