Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com – An unusual Roman circular burial site has been uncovered, notable for the absence of any human bones. This finding is particularly intriguing, as most Roman burials typically contain skeletal remains. The lack of bones raises questions about the burial’s purpose and the practices associated with it at the time. Although archaeologists have not found any human remains, they are convinced that the stone circle once served as a burial mound.
Credit: Archäologiebüro Dr. Woidich GmbH.
Archaeologists made this significant discovery in the village of Wolkertshofen, Bavaria, Germany, during the construction of a rainwater basin. Their involvement was intended to ensure that no archaeological remains were disturbed. The site is located near an ancient Roman road used by soldiers and traders.
A Work Of The Raetians? No, Not Really
The archaeology team noted that the circular stone structure measures 12 meters in diameter. The precise shape and careful arrangement of the dressed stones suggest it is likely a Roman burial mound, or tumulus. Such structures are rare in the province of Raetia, which once covered much of present-day southern Germany as well as parts of Switzerland and Tyrol.
Archaeologists are working at the site. Credit: Archäologiebüro Dr. Woidich GmbH
The origins and history of the Raetians remain largely obscure, though historical records identify them as one of the most formidable and warlike tribes of the Alpine region. According to Livy, they were distinctly of Etruscan descent. This new archaeological find offers important insights into the cultural and societal dynamics of the area during the Roman era.
The high-quality construction and distinctive appearance of the stone circle strongly indicate that it served as the ring wall of a Roman-era tumulus. Tumuli, or burial mounds, had a well-established tradition in Central Europe and Italy during Roman times. In the northwestern provinces of the Roman Empire, these structures began to appear from the 1st century AD onward. In addition to newly built burial mounds, older Bronze or Iron Age sites were sometimes repurposed for secondary burials.
Scholars are currently discussing whether this practice may represent a deliberate revival of pre-Roman—especially Celtic—burial customs. While the stone base walls clearly reflect Mediterranean architectural influences, most burial mounds in this region date back to the Bronze and Iron Ages.
Yes, It Was A Cenotaph
No skeletons or grave goods were found within this particular stone circle, leading experts to believe it is a cenotaph—a symbolic tomb honoring someone buried elsewhere. The site’s location along a Roman road connecting Nassenfels with the Altmühl Valley and its proximity to a “villa rustica,” or Roman country estate, further support this interpretation.
Credit: Archäologiebüro Dr. Woidich GmbH
Although several Roman burial sites have been discovered in the Augsburg area, tumuli featuring large stone ring walls are extremely rare in what was once the Raetia province. As such, the Roman grave at Wolkertshofen is of significant value to ongoing research into Roman life in Bavaria.
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“We hadn’t expected to discover a tomb monument of this age and size here. The tumulus stood directly on an important Roman road, allowing the family to erect a highly visible memorial to their deceased. The tomb served both as a place of remembrance and as an expression of social standing, says Professor Mathias Pfeil of the Bayerisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege.
Written by Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com Staff Writer