It is a creepy, but fascinating discovery: In Allensbach on lake Constance, have been discovered by archaeologists, an early modern execution place. What skeletons, gallows, foundations, and other discoveries over the years, tell?

Allensbach (Reuters) - Only a few pieces of bone sticking out of the ground. But the two archaeologists Jürgen Hald and Michael Francken can tell, the find nevertheless, a lot of: "This is a forearm bone, a cervical vertebra, a piece of jaw bone over there," says Francken and shows, in succession, on the bone parts.

To whom it may concerned, what is the age of the man had, whether it was a man or a woman - all of this, the researchers will examine in more detail later in the lab. Relatively safe, can be, at first glance, but say that The skeleton belonged to a man who was killed several Hundred years ago, in a forest clearing in all the brook in the County of Konstanz.

700 square meters of all Bach

this is Because the pieces of Bone are large site, close to the municipality on a place of execution. Excavation Director, Jürgen Hald from the Landratsamt Konstanz has discovered with his Team at the beginning of April. On the approximately 700 square meter large area, the researchers found two brick foundations, which formed the pillar of a roughly four-Meter-high gallows. In the pits underneath and next to the gallows, the archaeologists found several skeletons, they also found burnt bones in fire pits on the site. In total, the Remains of 20 to 25 people were discovered. The site, close to the municipality all brook had been examined in the run-up to the expansion of state road 33, says Hald.

to have Been the time the gallows was used, he located on a clearing near a road, says Hald. "But it is also well visible from the island of Reichenau from." Because the execution site should be not only easily accessible, but also of deterrence. When exactly the place was, is not known. There is but archive records that the gallows in 1653, was re-erected. Be guaranteed the executions from the age of 16. Century, most have it in the 17. and 18. Century given, says Hald. "According to yet unconfirmed records, the last execution to have taken place around 1770." At the time, a robber and murderer, had been hanged, to have robbed a cattle-dealer, and killed. At the beginning of the 19th century. Century the gallows was dismantled.

Fund has supra-regional significance

The dead were a high probability that people who were convicted on the island of Reichenau, Hald. You were probably accused of crimes such as witchcraft, theft, or robbery. Since the prisoners were not allowed to be executed on the "Holy island" hung, brought to you probably with a boat to the mainland to the place of execution in all of Bach. The Shackled were dragged up a ladder, and a hook suspended. The people were suffocated slowly. "This is a painful death, it was also dishonorable."

Some of the bodies were later buried in a shallow pit in a rage, the other man was on the gallows to hang. Some of the Executed were beheaded after their death also, or you've pushed a metal rod through your skull, says Michael franc from the state office for monument preservation, which is also involved in the excavation.

to discover such A place of execution, and to be able to investigate, be something Special and Outstanding, says Hald. "But that phase is way too depressing." The most important thing was to salvage the Remains of the people, and to investigate scientifically. "With FILIAL piety and respect." From the researcher's point of view, of the Fund but have supra-regional importance, because such directional spots are very rare - many no longer existed simply.

stronghold of witch persecution in Ellwangen, Germany

another important archaeological site is located in Ellwangen. In 1991, the foundations of a former gallows were after the storm Wiebke visible and archaeologically investigated. "The mortal Remains of eight were found executed", - is said in the city. Ellwangen is also considered to be one of the strongholds of the witch persecution: "Certainly there was at that time almost everywhere in southern Germany, witch trials. But the number of victims, such as the intermittent intensity of the Process had gone in Ellwangen, apparently, but beyond what was observed elsewhere," it says on the website of the municipality.

witch trials in Ellwangen 1588 and 1611 to 1618 is given. "The most terrible years 1611 to 1613 were. In this time over 300 people were burned." A still existing gallows in contrast, for example, in Triberg in the black forest, visited.

Michael franc will examine the allensbach found skeletons now, anthropologically, to learn more about her life and the circumstances of her death. "The individual's fate is a priority for us," he says. So leave the bones and other finds, including clothes hooks and eyelets, or jewelry, for example, recognize how old the person was, what gender and what social status he had, and whether he suffered from disease.