Under 6,000-year-old ditch, elusive medieval erdstall tunnel found

Archaeologists in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, uncovered a medieval erdstall tunnel beneath a Neolithic ditch while preparing a site for wind farm construction. Erdstall tunnels are narrow underground passageways widespread across Central Europe, dating from the 10th to 13th centuries, yet their purpose remains unclear. This newly found tunnel, about 3.28 feet tall and 19.7 to 27.6 inches wide, contained minimal artifacts—a horseshoe, animal bones, and signs of a low-intensity fire—and was deliberately blocked at the entrance, adding to the mystery surrounding these structures. Erdstalls are typically small, complex tunnels with connected levels, narrow crawl spaces called “Schlupf,” and are often located near churches, cemeteries, or remote areas. Archaeologists speculate they may have served as secret hideouts, sites for cultic or initiation rituals, or spiritual retreats, possibly linked to medieval perceptions of ancient pagan sites. Despite thousands of such tunnels