In Germany, a group of archaeologists has made a significant discovery near the village of Dornberg: a medieval underground tunnel, likely used for religious rites.
Excavations are taking place near Dornberg, and researchers are gradually uncovering new aspects of it.
During the work, archaeologists uncovered a trapezoidal trench and a Stone Age burial site alongside remains from the late Neolithic dating to the third millennium BCE.
In subsequent excavations, a stone slab and a long oval pit about two meters long and 76 cm wide were found.
Initially, researchers regarded this as a tomb, but later it was determined that they were looking at a tunnel system.
Similar objects with chamber-like enlargements have previously been documented in regions of Germany and nearby, especially where the ground is firm but workable, formed in the medieval period.
Researchers speculate that the tunnels could have served as storages or sites of ritual activity, however their exact purpose remains uncertain.
During the excavations in the tunnel, a metal horseshoe, fragments of a clay pot, a layer of charcoal, and a fox skeleton were also found in one of the passages.
Outlook for further research
Scientists continue to analyze the materials to establish more precise timeframes and the tunnels’ functional purposes, and are also considering the possibility of discoveries of similar objects in the region.