Gräberfeld von Lauchheim

Lauchheim burial ground is an early medieval cemetery containing more than 1300 graves arranged in rectangular patterns on the west side of the town. The burials hold clothing, jewelry, weapons, and tools that provide insight into daily life during this period.

The cemetery saw active use from the late 5th to late 7th centuries and ranks among the largest Merovingian burial grounds in southern Germany. The site documents how settlement and social patterns evolved during this transformative period.

The site reflects how early medieval communities organized themselves through burial customs and grave goods that show social status and daily life. People buried their dead with objects they valued, revealing what mattered in their time.

The burial ground itself is not open to visitors, but excavated artifacts from the site are on display at the Alamannen Museum in Ellwangen nearby. The museum collection provides a complete picture of the objects discovered during the 1986 to 1996 excavations.

Researchers use computer tomography to examine block excavations without damaging the ancient objects inside. This technology allows detailed study of multiple items together and how they were originally arranged in the graves.