Forbidden passage?Secret medieval tunnel found beneath ancient pagan graves, archaeologists say

Archaeologists in Germany uncovered a medieval underground tunnel, seen at left, built into a much older Neolithic burial complex near Reinstedt.(Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt, Ulf Petzschmann;iStock)

The erdstall dates back to the late Middle Ages — and officials said that its purpose is unclear.

“Interpretations of erdstalls range from hiding places to spaces used for cultic activities,” the statement said.

Archaeologists initially believed the feature was a grave. 

The ditch, described as “trapezoidal,” was part of a site that contained several “poorly preserved” burials that date to the Late Neolithic period of the 3rd millennium B.C.

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Seeing a stone slab at the northern end of the pit, archaeologists initially believedthe feature was a grave— before realizing it was actually an underground tunnel.

Officials said the feature continued downward into the loess beneath the prehistoric site.

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A stone slab at the entrance of the erdstall was initially believed to mark a grave before archaeologists identified an underground tunnel.(Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt, Ulf Petzschmann)

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Excavators found late medieval pottery, numerous stones and small cavities in the loess fill — which made clear that the structure was an erdstall.

The Neolithic ditch enclosure may have remained visible above ground during medieval times, officials speculated.(Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt, Simon Meier)

It appeared to be intentionally sealed, adding to the mystery of the site.

Officials said, “At the narrowest point of the entrance, an accumulation of larger stones stacked on top of one another was observed, which could indicate an intentional sealing of the entrance.”

medieval Christianswould have purposely avoided a pagan burial site.

Late medieval pottery, stones and small cavities helped confirm the structure as an erdstall, officials said.(Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt, Ulf Petzschmann)

The find is part of a series of recent archaeological discoveries reported across Germany.

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Last summer, excavators found a mysteriousRoman-erasettlementsite in North Rhine-Westphalia, with building remains and artifacts surviving nearly 2,000 years.

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During another summer excavation, archaeologists unearthed a hoard ofearly medieval treasures— and a rare cross — on the banks of an inlet in northern Germany.