2 weeks Ago
Archaeologists in Germany have discovered an impeccably preserved wooden burial chamber at the center of an enormous burial mound from the early Celtic period. The 2,600-year-old grave, uncovered near the town of Riedlingen, is only the second well-preserved Celtic burial chamber to be uncovered in Germany. Wood buried underground in dry or normal conditions usually decomposes within decades, at most.
This makes such discoveries rare, prompting experts to call this Celtic burial a finding of "outstanding scientific importance," according to a translated statement from the local government. "The Riedlingen grave is a stroke of luck for archaeology," Dirk Krausse , the state archaeologist of Baden-Württemberg, said during a news conference, according to the statement. The ancient Celts lived in continental Europe to as far east as modern-day Turkey and included different groups, including the Gauls of what is now France and the Celtiberians in the Iberian Peninsula.
Their original home territories are thought to have included parts of France, the Czech Republic and southern Germany, where this tomb was found. The large chamber was around 11 feet wide by 13 feet long (3.4 by 4 meters).
Its floors, walls and ceiling were constructed out of massive oak timbers that were exceptionally preserved thanks to damp conditions from groundwater and aquifers. This would have protected the wood from exposure to oxygen, which leads to decay. Related: Possible 'mega' fort.
.. Margherita Bassi.
