The Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments has reported the discovery of an ancient “wishing well” in the town of Germering, located in the state of Bavaria, Germany.
The well, which is wood lined and contains ritual deposits dating back to the Bronze Age around 3,000 years ago was found during construction of a distribution center.
Because of its location at the bottom of the well, the well lining was able to survive for around 5 meters (or 16.4 feet).
Within the sediment layers on the well’s bottom, archaeologists have uncovered bronze garment pins, metal spirals, a pendant animal tooth wrapped in metal, and more than 70 ceramic vessels.
They are decorated with cups, pots, and bowls. These types of vessels were used as grave goods in Middle Bronze Age burials. They are all intact which suggests that the vessels were not just thrown in the trash but ritually stored with care.
“Even today, fountains have something magical about them for many people. People drop coins to pray that their dreams will come true. Our ancestors offered valuable jewellery and jewelry ritually 3000 years back, but we don’t know what their motives were. But it can be assumed that they were intended as sacrifices for a good harvest,” explains Mathias Pfeil from the Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments.
An analysis of well sediments revealed that groundwater levels had declined significantly during the period the well was being used. The result was a drought which led to poor harvests for nearby villages. It could be why high-status ceramics and artifacts of great stature were ritually placed.
Germering is the scene of archaeological excavations that began in 2021. There are approximately 13500 finds from archaeology and 70 additional wells that date back to the Bronze Age and Early Middle Ages.
Header Image Credit : Marcus Guckenbiehl