Archaeologists have uncovered a rare Roman funerary complex during construction work in the Eichstatt area of southern Germany. The discovery includes a circular stone structure with a diameter of approximately 12 meters, dating back to the 1st century A.D., as reported by Popular Science. Experts suggest the site was the base of a tumulus, a burial mound uncommon in Raetia province. The monument’s location along a major Roman road implies the buried individual held high social status.
A preserved stone ring and a square base—possibly for a statue or tombstone—were found at the site. Researchers note that such large stone structures are rare in Raetia. While the artifacts date to the Roman period, nearby traces of earlier settlements and ceramics hint at possible connections to Bronze and Iron Age traditions. No human remains or burial goods were discovered inside, leading scientists to believe the mound may have been a cenotaph, symbolically marking a person buried elsewhere. Its visibility along a key road aligns with this theory.
Separately, archaeologists in Krasnoyarsk found what appears to be the remains of early regional inhabitants. During pipe reconstruction, researchers identified a grave containing up to 30 individuals from the mid-17th century. Preliminary findings suggest most were young men, with starvation cited as a likely cause of death.
