Wörth, Inland island in Staffelsee lake, Germany.
Wörth is a small inland island located in the Staffelsee lake in Upper Bavaria, close to the town of Seehausen am Staffelsee. The island sits at around 678 meters above sea level and is fully surrounded by the lake's waters.
Between 1992 and 1997, archaeological excavations on the island uncovered a cemetery with 363 burials from the late 17th and 18th centuries. These findings confirmed that the island served as a burial site for the surrounding population during that period.
The name 'Wörth' is an old German word for a small island or piece of land surrounded by water, and it appears in many place names across southern Germany. On the island, the presence of a historic burial ground points to a long-standing connection between the local community and this spot in the lake.
The island is reachable from Seehausen am Staffelsee by foot or by boat, making it a good spot for a short outing on the lake. Sturdy footwear is a good idea since the terrain can be uneven in places.
Among the burial objects found during excavations were rare death crowns made from twisted copper and silver wire, placed with the deceased as part of the funeral rite. Objects like these are uncommon in the archaeological record of the region and point to a local craft tradition that is rarely documented elsewhere.
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