Wooden artifacts found in German lake

Archaeologists from the Saxony-Anhalt Heritage Office have recovered wooden artifacts from the bottom of Lake Arendsee in Germany, dating back 10,500 years. The items include a wooden pillar and several planks found at a depth of about 20 meters.

Artifacts show signs of human activity

These artifacts, which show tool marks, were discovered beneath a thin layer of sediment deposited by the lake. The findings, announced in late September 2026 and reported by the magazine Scinexx, challenge previous assumptions about the complexity of Mesolithic structures in the region.

Possible remnants of ancient dwellings

The artifacts could be remnants of dwellings or other constructions built by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers. However, further analysis is required to determine the exact form and function of each piece. If confirmed, these findings could have significant implications for understanding the period before the advent of agriculture.

Unique geological conditions preserved the wood

The survival of the wood is attributed to a geological peculiarity: Lake Arendsee sits atop a slowly subsiding salt dome, which has submerged and preserved ancient shorelines and deposits over time. Few lakes are known to preserve such a detailed record of their past.