Rare Roman-Era Stone Monument Discovered Near Nassenfels, Bavaria!
Archaeologists from the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation (BLfD) have made an extraordinary discovery near the village of Wolkertshofen, close to Nassenfels in Upper Bavaria. During construction work for a stormwater retention basin in autumn 2024, they uncovered the remains of a large circular stone structure, believed to be the foundation of a Roman burial mound, or tumulus, dating back to the Imperial period.
The monument, a carefully constructed stone circle around twelve metres in diameter, features an attached square base on its southern side measuring two by two metres. Experts suggest this annex may have supported a stele or statue, forming the monument’s focal point. Interestingly, no human remains or grave goods were found, leading archaeologists to interpret it as a cenotaph—a symbolic grave for someone buried elsewhere.
“The discovery of a funerary monument of such scale here was unexpected,” said Prof. Mathias Pfeil, General Conservator at the BLfD. “Positioned along a major Roman road, it served as both a memorial and a visible expression of social prestige.”
Photo Credit: Archäologiebüro Dr. Woidich GmbH
The tumulus is situated along an ancient Roman road that once linked Nassenfels to the Altmühl valley, a key route in the Raetian province, which encompassed parts of modern southern Germany, Switzerland, and Tyrol. Nearby lies a villa rustica, a rural estate likely belonging to a wealthy landowner, suggesting that the tumulus may have commemorated a member of the local elite.
Excavations also revealed traces of prehistoric activity in the area, including pottery fragments and remains from Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron Age settlements. This long history of human occupation highlights the landscape’s continued use for both ritual and domestic purposes over thousands of years.
Burial mounds were a longstanding Roman tradition, blending Mediterranean practices with older Central European customs. They appeared in the northwestern provinces from the first century CE. Some new tumuli were even built alongside the reuse of prehistoric mounds, perhaps to deliberately link Roman commemorative practices with pre-Roman or Celtic traditions. Stone tumuli of this size are extremely rare in Raetia, making the Wolkertshofen find particularly significant for understanding local funerary customs.
The lack of bones or grave offerings indicates that this was a symbolic tomb rather than a site of actual burial. Cenotaphs allowed families to honour loved ones who died far from home, offering a place for commemorative rituals. The precise construction of the stone circle and its prominent location along a Roman road reflect both technical skill and the social ambitions of those who commissioned it.
Archaeologists now plan to analyse soil samples and construction materials to determine the monument’s exact age and any possible phases of use. Despite its apparent simplicity, the Wolkertshofen stone circle offers rare insight into how Roman-era communities in Bavaria expressed identity, status, and memory through monumental architecture.