Wood beneath German lake may reveal buildings 3,000 years older than region's first farms

Key Points:

• Underwater archaeological research in Lake Arendsee has uncovered Mesolithic-era artifacts dating back around 10,500 years, including well-preserved wooden structures possibly indicating early buildings predating the first farmers in Central Europe.
• The lake’s unique geological feature—a slowly sinking bottom caused by an underlying salt dome—has preserved these ancient remains beneath sediment at about 20 meters depth, allowing exceptional preservation of wood and other materials rarely found from this period.
• Discoveries include a 1.60-meter-high post with felling marks and split boards up to 1.30 meters long, suggesting the presence of architectural structures that could reshape understanding of hunter-gatherer lifestyles and the origins of cultural landscapes.
• High-resolution sonar mapping using a remotely operated vehicle helped document the former shoreline and locate archaeological sites, enhancing future underwater investigations with advanced technology developed by the Fraunhofer Institute.
• These findings offer new perspectives on the Mesolithic period and are linked to the era of the shaman of Bad Dürrenberg, currently featured in a special exhibition at the State Museum of Prehistory Halle (Saale).