Archaeologists recently uncovered the remains of a medieval village that was mysteriously abandoned in Germany — raising questions about why its residents packed up and left.The excavation at the Am Frevelgraben site in Halberstadt, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, revealed numerous traces of a medieval settlement, including parts of a multi-tiered ditch system.The State Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt announced the findings on Aug.24.UNEXPECTED ANCIENT COMPLEX EMERGES NEAR BIBLICAL CITY LINKED TO JONAH AND ST PETERArchaeologists began excavating the site in March ahead of the development of a nearby industrial park, officials said. Historical maps suggest the settlement may be the remains of a medieval village known as Kühlingen.Archaeologists uncovered the remains of a medieval settlement at the Am Frevelgraben site in Halberstadt, Germany.
(State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, Klaus Bentele; Print Collector/Getty Images)Archaeologists documented rows of pit houses, settlement pits and two wells at the site, while other traces suggest residents also made extensive use of the nearby riverbank.Overlapping features and houses built directly next to one another indicate the settlement developed in two phases, officials said — with its footprint shifting as new homes were constructed.ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNCOVER 1,700-YEAR-OLD CHRISTIAN CITY HIDDEN BENEATH EGYPT'S DESERTDespite the well-preserved remains, however, archaeologists found surprisingly few artifacts — a detail officials found remarkable."A few scattered ceramic shards and a handful of metal finds, including, for example, a bronze tap, fittings, and belt buckets, certainly represent only a fraction of the former possessions of the inhabitants," the release said.Archaeologists found no evidence of destruction or fire at the site; the reason behind the abandonment "remains a mystery at this time." (State Office for Heritage Management and Ar...