Sensational find in Pliening: Archaeologists discover 1000-year-old keys

Created: 05/02/2022 04:47

By: Armin Roesl

Archaeologists found these three iron keys at a depth of a good four meters in Pliening.

© X Cavate Archaeology

The head of the excavation speaks of a "sensational find": archaeologists have discovered 1000-year-old keys in Pliening.

And much more.

Pliening – The person must have been quite annoyed when the keys fell into the well four meters deep.

Did this happen one morning when he/she went to fetch water and lost the keys?

Or did he/she throw the keys in on purpose because no one else should get the keys?

Or did the person end their life in Pliening, lock the house, throw the key in the well and move on?

There are no limits to the imagination, but the fact is: the team of archaeologists from X-Cavate Archeology recently found three iron keys during recent excavations on the site next to the Plieninger church, on which the senior citizens' residential complex is being built.

The largest measures almost twelve centimeters.

Archaeologists have uncovered several ancient wells in Pliening.

© X Cavate Archaeology

Archaeologist and excavation director Ursula Scharafin-Hölzl speaks of a "sensational find".

"I've dug many wells, but never found a key." According to the archaeologist, the Plieninger specimens, which were probably on a bunch of keys (the strap or leather have not been preserved), are around 1000 years old.

A very rare case for the lost and found office.

(By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Ebersberg newsletter.)

The keys were discovered in a well box, the wood of which was still intact thanks to the moisture in the earth.

The archaeologists wrapped the wood in cling film and preserved it.

According to Scharafin-Hölzl, the fountain dates from the Carolingian (AD 751 to 919) or Ottonian period (AD 850 to 919).

The wood of the fountain box was still very well preserved.

© X Cavate Archaeology

Archaeologists have discovered more than a dozen wells in the Pliening area, most of which are four to four and a half meters deep.

"In addition to the early and high Middle Ages, we also have prehistoric fountains from the Hallstatt period," reports Ursula Scharafin-Hölzl.

"This and the small cremation burial from the Urnfield Period (late Bronze Age) proves that people have always liked to settle on this very site for thousands of years." The archaeologists were able to uncover an almost complete vessel from the 13th century from another well.

The area on Geltinger Straße in Pliening.

© Johannes Dziemballa

On the site on Geltinger Straße, the municipality of Pliening is planning a "senior living plus" with four houses, in which 33 residential units, a café, two multi-purpose/event rooms, two shops and a practice are housed.

There is also an underground car park with 39 parking spaces and above-ground parking spaces for cars (22) and bicycles (32).

Construction is due to start later this year.

The consortium of architects gaigl architekten partmbb and sitzberger + architekten GmbH commissioned by the municipality estimates the total costs at a good 17.7 million euros.

After deducting the expected state subsidies of around 6.5 million euros, the municipality of Pliening will still have costs of around 11.2 million euros.

You can find more current news from the district of Ebersberg at Merkur.de/Ebersberg.