Roman-Era Settlement and Mysterious Burial Discovered in Delbrück-Bentfeld!
In the small village of Delbrück-Bentfeld, located in eastern Germany, archaeologists have wrapped up an extraordinary months-long excavation that has shed new light on life during the Roman era. Carried out by the Westphalia-Lippe Regional Association (LWL), the dig began in November 2024, just ahead of planned residential development in the Schafbreite area. What they found exceeded all expectations, a settlement and burial site spanning centuries, from the 2nd to the 5th century CE.
Photo Credit: EggensteinExca/S. Knippschild
Over the course of the excavation, nearly 400 archaeological features were uncovered, including two large buildings, sunken-floor huts, wells, and storage pits. These finds suggest a lively settlement, with evidence of everyday life and long-term habitation.
One of the most intriguing discoveries was a Roman-era cremation burial containing both human remains and a collection of grave goods. Among these were fragments of a lance, brooches, a broken bone comb, a firesteel, and a beautifully decorated animal-head belt fitting, possibly from a Roman military belt. Experts believe the individual buried here may have been a Germanic mercenary who once served in the Roman army.
This is a particularly exciting find, as it’s the first burial in East Westphalia where components of a Roman soldier’s belt were discovered in their original context, rather than simply found on the surface.
Just as the excavation was drawing to a close, the team made one final discovery: a well dating to the Migration Period. At first, they assumed it was just an old watering hole for animals, but further digging revealed a carefully constructed shaft made from three hollowed-out tree trunks.
Photo Credit: EggensteinExca/S. Knippschild
What made this discovery even more remarkable was the level of preservation. Fragments of leather, wattlework, and even an insect wing were found intact, a rare treat for archaeologists working with materials over 1,500 years old. One of the beams used to build the well bore carved, rune-like markings, leading experts to believe it had once been part of a house before being repurposed.
Above the well, archaeologists discovered a charcoal-rich layer containing charred bone fragments and pieces of glass beads. This suggests the well might have been ritually "retired" or even reused as a cremation site. Among the grave goods were two small bead fragments and a striking large green glass bead measuring nearly 4 cm across. While this bead likely dates to the 1st century, it seems to have been buried several centuries later, raising fascinating questions about how and why it was included.
Photo Credit: LWL-Archäologie für Westfalen/A. Madziala
Further research will now begin to analyse the finds in greater detail. This will include dendrochronological (tree-ring) dating of the wood, radiocarbon testing of the charcoal, anthropological study of the cremated remains, and archaeobotanical research to help reconstruct the environment as it existed 1,600 years ago.
With the dig now complete, development in the Schafbreite area is set to go ahead. Local Mayor Werner Peitz expressed his satisfaction with the project, noting that while the housing development is important for the community, so too is preserving its past. “We’re very pleased about the progress, but it was just as important to us that a site of regional and historical importance like this was thoroughly and professionally documented so its story can be preserved for future generations,” he said.
This remarkable excavation has not only opened a window into the lives of those who lived in Delbrück-Bentfeld centuries ago, it’s also ensured that their legacy will continue to shape the identity of the area for years to come.