The artifacts found include ancient wood, stone and ceramic materials, which are considered very important for a better understanding of the history and life of the ancient people in that area.
Before that, archaeologists had discovered about 70 ancient wells in Bavaria. However, none of them are as full of “treasures” as the newly found wooden well.
For ancient civilizations, water was considered the main source for sustaining all life, especially for sustainability in agriculture. This is also why natural waters are often ritualized. In ancient times, wells were often the places where people frequented. This makes them central and a place for people to meet.
Ancient people may also drop jewelry or pottery into the well as an offering, similar to the way modern people today throw coins into the well for good luck.
This wooden well is more than 5,000 years old. (Photo: Marcus Guckenbiehl)
According to archaeologists, the newly found wood-lined well is more than 3,000 years old and is about 5m deep. This figure shows that this well is much deeper than other wells of the same type. The team also discovered that the bottom of the well was preserved almost intact and contained a collection of ceremonial deposits from about 3,000 years ago during the Bronze Age.
Dr. Jochen Haberstroh, archaeologist at the Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments (BLFD), said: “It is very rare for a well to be more than 3,000 years old and still be this good. The wooden wall is also preserved. intact and at the bottom of the well there is still a little moisture because of the groundwater.”
This also explains why the artifacts and artifacts made from organic materials in the well are still in good condition. They are being examined more closely by researchers. Experts hope that the new find will provide more information about the daily life of the inhabitants of that time.
Pottery was found at the bottom of an ancient well. (Photo: Marcus Guckenbiehl).
In addition, at the bottom of the well, the team of archaeologists also found 26 bronze clothespins, a bracelet, two metal spirals, an animal tooth, amber beads and more than 70 pieces. pottery. Experts emphasize that these artifacts make this wooden well more special than other wells in the excavation site.
According to experts, these expensive items are often found in Middle Bronze Age tombs, not everyday items. The intact condition when discovered at the bottom of the well indicates that the items were carefully lowered into the water, rather than being dropped or thrown in.
In addition to pottery, archaeologists also found many jewelry under the well. (Photo: Marcus Guckenbiehl).
Mathias Pfeil, an expert at BLFD, said: “We cannot explain exactly what caused the ancient inhabitants to give away jewelry and other valuable gifts 3,000 years ago. But it is likely that they were used as sacrifices to help bring about a good harvest.”
Besides, according to experts, the unusual characteristics of wooden wells also provide some information.
According to archeologist Marcus Guckenbiehl at Germering: “The depth of the well suggests it was used at a time when the groundwater level dropped significantly. This indicates prolonged drought and poor harvest. This may be the reason why the inhabitants who lived here at that time sacrificed part of their possessions in the well to the gods.”
The oldest water well in the world
Previously, archaeologists discovered a water well dating back to 7,000 years in the Czech Republic in February 2020. This is considered the oldest well in the world.
Accordingly, this well was found during the D35 highway near the town of Ostrov, Karlovy Vary district, Karlovarský region, Czech Republic.
A 7,000-year-old wooden well was found in the Czech Republic.A 7,000-year-old wooden well was found in the Czech Republic. (Photo: Pardibice University).
After conducting an analysis of the growth cycle of the wood blocks surrounding the well, the archaeologists said that the ancient well was built with oak wood dating back to about 5,256 BC.
According to experts, the ancient well has a length of 140 cm and an area of 80 cm2. The design of the wooden well shows that, using only tools made of stone, bone, wood or horn, the ancient inhabitants knew how to make grooves in the pillars to stack wooden planks on top of each other. This made archaeologists quite surprised by the advanced construction techniques of the ancients when they knew how to treat the surface of the tree trunks accurately with only rudimentary tools.
Researcher Karol Bayer at the University of Pardibice, Czech Republic, said that this ancient well is still intact because it has been submerged under water for many centuries. However, the researchers also developed a process to dry and preserve the ancient well without distortion or