A rare Roman funerary monument has been discovered in Germany.

Construction work in the Eichstatt area in southern Germany has led to the discovery of a rare Roman funerary complex — a circular stone structure with a diameter of about 12 m dating back to the 1st century A.D. This was reported in the journal Popular Science.

According to experts, the stone circle found was the base of the tumulus, a burial mound that is extremely rare in the province of Raetia. The monument was located along an important Roman road, which indicates the high social status of the buried.

A ring of stones about 12 m wide has been preserved from the mound, as well as a square base — a likely place for a statue or a tombstone stele. The researchers note that such large stone fences of tumulus are practically not found in Raetia. The found elements date back to the Roman period, but traces of more ancient settlements and ceramics have been found nearby, indicating a possible connection with the traditions of the Bronze and Iron Ages.

Despite the typology of the grave monument, no remains or burial equipment were found inside. According to scientists, these are not signs of robbery: the mound could be a cenotaph, a symbolic burial of a person buried in another place. This option is explained by the location of the monument next to the Roman manor and along a major road — the place was perfectly visible to travelers.

On September 7, archaeologists in Krasnoyarsk discovered the remains of what were probably the first local residents of the region. According to Ilya Zaitsev, chairman of the Committee on Health and Social Policy of the Legislative Assembly of the region, the burial was discovered during the reconstruction of the pipes. According to preliminary data, the grave contains the remains of up to 30 people dating back to the middle of the 17th century. He added that, judging by the findings, most of the deceased were young men. The alleged cause of death was starvation.

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