Curious Unknown Structures and a Wealth of Graves Found at Site in France

From northeastern France’s Alsace region, bordering Germany, a 5.5 hectares site called Pfulgriesheim has yielded ancient remnants and structures dating back thousands of years—from the Late Neolithic period all the way to the Early Middle Ages. Subject of an extensive excavation ahead of planned urban development, the site has turned out to be a rich bowl of human activity, with one of the more exciting discoveries being a Late Neolithic period storage system, made of large silos dug into the loess-rich soil!

Deep Silos: Funereal Purposes

These deep silos, some reaching up to 2 meters (6.56 feet), were very well-preserved, serving as storage spaces for food and other vital resources. Organized into distinct groups, spaced a few meters apart, the silos exist at a level of mystery for the researchers: this is because there is no clear evidence of associated buildings found, and thus, the presence of large quantities of burnt adobe inside some of the silos suggests the possibility of nearby structures that may have once been part of a settlement, reports Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives (INRAP).

View of a burial in a silo from the recent Neolithic period (4000-3400 BC), Pfulgriesheim (Bas-Rhin), 2024. (© Simon Diemer/Inrap)

Ritual met everyday life in these silos, as burials were contained within them, alluding to this being part of the funerary ritual. Perhaps this was a common burial practice of the time. Circular pit burials were a common feature in the region during the Neolithic, which is potentially helping scientists understand the relationship with land that Neolithic communities had.

Scientists also discovered around 60 elongated, narrow structures referred to as “clefts.” Shaped like a V, U, or Y, these structures and their function is not yet fully understood, but the prevailing theory is that they may have been hunting traps or related installations. This hypothesis is based on similar findings from other parts of eastern France, but the exact purpose of the clefts remains unclear.

Cross-section of a Neolithic cleft, Pfulgriesheim, 2023. (© Anaïs Viennot/Inrap)

Scientists hope that through carbon-14 dating, critical for determining their age, may in turn, help clarify their role in the lives of the ancient inhabitants.

Moving in Time: Settlements from Later Periods

Slightly forward in time, the site has also revealed traces of two small settlements from the Iron Age, specifically from the La Tène period. The first of these settlements, dates to the early phase of La Tène (480–280 BC), including several silos as well as a sunken building with a square layout, a fairly typical structure for the period.

View of the upper levels of a late Neolithic silo (4000-3400 BC), largely filled with burnt cob, Pfulgriesheim (Bas-Rhin), 2023. (© Heidi Cicutta/Inrap)

The second settlement, from the later La Tène phase (150–25 BC), is more substantial, featuring the partial remains of an enclosure that once surrounded the site. This rural settlement was likely part of a larger network of farms, contributing to a more extensive territorial system.

The Early Middle Ages have also left their mark on Pfulgriesheim, with the discovery of three circular funerary enclosures dating back to the 7th century AD. These monuments, measuring about 15 meters (45ft) in diameter, consisted of shallow ditches encircling tumuli of different sizes, reports LBV Magazine.

View of a burial contained in a coffered tomb from the early Middle Ages (600-700 AD), Pfulgriesheim (Bas-Rhin), 2024. (© Yasmine Mechadi/Inrap)

Two of the enclosures were connected, forming a single funerary complex. Each contained a central grave covered with stone slabs, indicative of the status of the deceased. In one of the graves, archaeologists unearthed the skeleton of an individual buried with a spur on the left foot, possibly signifying high social rank. The third enclosure, lacking visible human remains, likely housed a burial beneath the tumulus.

Modern History: Filling in the Gaps

Even the more recent history of the site has proven interesting. A number of structures related to hop and vineyard cultivation from the 20th century were also uncovered, reports Arkeonews.

These findings, while more familiar, fill in gaps about the area’s more recent past—particularly as few records exist of the agricultural practices that once shaped the region. Aerial photographs are expected to assist in accurately dating these structures, positioning them within the broader roadmap of Alsace’s agrarian history.

Top image: View of the stripping of Pfulgriesheim (Bas-Rhin), 2024, with inset examples of findings. Source: © Clément Féliu/ Inrap

By Sahir Pandey