Bronze Age graves found during railway construction

The graves are located just outside the city of Oechlitz, on the railroad track connecting the major eastern city of Leipzig with its neighbor to the southwest, Erfurt.

They were first discovered after construction had begun on an ICE express train line. Scientists have ascertained that a number of skeletons are from the Bronze Age, as the corpses were stacked on top of one another, suggesting that they were buried in what is known as a "layered grave."

Archaeologists discovered a cluster of eight graves that included a woman interred in a sitting position. Scientists are hoping to find clues about why she was buried in such an unusual position through testing on the skeletons.

The scientists have been at work at the site, which is known as the "Querfurter ledge," for over a year. It is an extraordinarily fertile area situated between the Saale and Unstrut rivers, encompassing approximately 100 hectares (247 acres).

At present, around three quarters of the area has been excavated, which has produced around 55,000 different archaeological finds. Utensils, amber and copper jewelry, and weapons from varying epochs have been uncovered at the site.

Scientists believe humans have been settled on the Querfurter ledge for at least 7,500 years.

The digs will continue at the site until the middle of next year. Researchers are aiming to have the finds ready for documentation by 2011.

glb/dpa
Editor: Stephanie Siek