The recent archaeological discovery occurred in Wolkertshofen, on the edge of an already known Roman road. It involves a nearly perfectly constructed stone circle, which offers researchers a new interpretation of the area.
Recent Archaeological Discovery: A Tumulus in Bavaria
The stone circle was discovered more precisely in the Eichstätt district, near Wolkertshofen by Nassenfels. It measures twelve meters in diameter, and the stones are extraordinarily carefully crafted, with some still very well preserved. As the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation states, the recent archaeological discovery is likely a “tumulus,” a tomb from Roman antiquity.
However, this particular finding is unusual: Two thousand years ago, the area was part of the Roman province of Raetia, also known as “Raetien” in German. Yet, such circular tombs are not known from this province, although they existed in Italy. The question of why such a burial site is found precisely here, in the border region of the Roman Empire, is therefore puzzling the researchers involved in the discovery.
Mathias Pfeil, the General Conservator of the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation, explained: “We hadn’t expected to discover a burial monument of this age and size here. The tumulus was located directly on an important Roman transport route, allowing the family to commemorate one or more deceased persons in a way that was visible from afar.” According to the scientist, this also served as a common place for commemoration and remembrance.
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Perhaps There Is No Content At All
However, that’s not all that’s unexpected about the recent archaeological discovery. It contains no human remains whatsoever. Instead, researchers discovered the outlines of a square annex on one side. This may have served to place a statue there, which could provide a clue about the purpose of the burial site.
The most probable explanation is that it is a “cenotaph.” This term refers to a symbolic tomb, which might have served, for example, for a deceased person whose remains could not be recovered. Alternatively, it’s also possible that it served as a memorial site for a specific type of person, much like today’s “tomb of the unknown soldier.” In any case, the recent archaeological discovery is special because it demonstrates how early this Roman cultural practice spread throughout the empire in its imperial history.
Sources: Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation
This article was originally published on futurezone.de / 4P.de and has been carefully translated.